ACHIEVING NATIONAL UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SPORTS By Adekunle Oyedepo

Date: 2017-10-12

I can't agree less with Franz Beckenbauer, a former German football manager who opined that "football is one of the world's best means of communication. It is impartial, apolitical and universal. Football unites people around the world every day. Young or old, players or fans, rich or poor, the game makes everyone equal. Stirs the imagination, makes the people happy and makes them sad."

Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria on Saturday 7 October, became the first country on the continent to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World in Russia, as the Super Eagles defeated the Chipolopolo of Zambia by a goal to nil. The Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom was filled to the brim as Nigerians of diverse tribes, religions, and regions gathered to cheer and lift the Eagles' spirit.

Last Saturday was indeed a memorable day for Nigeria and Nigerians as we all put off our differences and revelled across Nigeria. From Uyo to Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Onitsha, Aba, Ilorin and in every other part of the country; the feeling was the same. Our love for our country is always high whenever our national teams engage in competitions.

This has again proven that sports, particularly football serves as a critical tool to unite people irrespective of their differences. There are over 400 spoken languages in Nigeria, but whenever the Super Eagles play, we all speak one language - football. Without doubt, sport has the ability to unite people, promote love, unity, national cohesion and development. Sport has the ability to influence or force people to put aside their differences and grievances for the sake of their nation.

It is, however, sad to note that despite the recognition of sport as a proponent of unification and catalyst for peace building, Nigerian government at all levels have failed to invest in sports development as a critical component of youth and national development. Among the challenges affecting sports development in Nigeria is the lack of adequate sporting centres and facilities in most parts of the country. There is therefore, a need for governments to promote sports development by building or renovating sporting facilities across the country and begin to organize age-group competitions to stimulate sporting culture among young people.

This will also provide an avenue for the youths to showcase and nurture their talents, with which they can empower themselves. Moreover, participation of young people in sporting activities enhances their wellbeing and healthy living, which is essential towards national productivity - a healthy nation is a productive nation.

We must as a country, begin to prioritise sports development by putting in place effective and structured sports policies and programmes that will assist youths develop their skills and talents. Corporate bodies are also encouraged to support the governments in doing this. Indeed, sports has a tremendous impact on peace building, national unity and youth empowerment that will ultimately transcend to national development.

I would like to end this piece with the words of Nobel Laureate, Oscar Arias (former president of Costa Rica), in his brilliant write up published on Forbes.com that reads, "Football, and sport in general, represents an opportunity to build a better version of a world too often threatened by irrationality, intolerance, and violence. Like any opportunity, it only counts if we take advantage of it. As spectators and parents, educators and leaders, we must train our eyes to see not only spectacular goals, but also acts of sportsmanship - to point out to each other, and to our children, not only athletic prowess, but also solidarity and diversity.

"We must use this platform to unite rather than to divide. And we must carry these lessons of peace far beyond the final whistle, in the hopes that someday, the world's game will no longer be a rare shooting star in a dark night of conflict, but part of the dawn of a more rational age."

Kind regards,

Adekunle Oyedepo

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Shola Odetundun     BECE     Kolawole Akande     Rasaq Jimoh     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Egbewole     Sadiq Buhari     Gbemi Saraki     Ilorin East     Gobirawa     Young Progressives Party     Bayer AG     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Aso-ofi     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Ganiyu Abolarin     Ishola Balogun Fulani     KWASEIC     Lola Ashiru     John Olobayo     Okin Biscuits     CELF     Oke-Ode     Aminat Ahmed     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Students Union Government     Idris Amosa Saidu     Kolo     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Lai Mohammed     Hajj     Kwara 2023     Shururat Olatinwo     Ilorin Airport     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Odolaye Aremu     Bukola Ajikobi     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Yusuf Mubarak     Logun     Yakubu Gobir     Daud Adeshola     Ahmed     Unicontinental Construction Company     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Al-Hikmah University     Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Ethical College     Olatunji Ayeni     David Adesina     Olam Food Ingredients     Jalala     Olokoba     Usman Yunusa     Alagbado     MATTA Girls Foundation     Henry Olaosebikan     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Www.Kwarareports.com     ASUU     Quranic Recitation Competition     March 18     TIIDELab     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Budo Egba     Taofik Abdulkareem     Raymond Olaitan     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     PharmAccess Foundation     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Siraj Oyewale     Habeeb Saidu     Bibire Ajape     Farouk Salim    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Innocent Okoye     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Ridwan Agboola     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Okin Group     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Saidu Isa     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Moshood Mustapha     Sunset Workers     Tunji Arosanyin     March 18     IEDPU     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kwara Hotel     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Oke-Kura     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Folashade Omoniyi     Ekweremadu     MalHub     3MTT     Women Radio     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Monsurat Omotosho     Alikinla     Oke-Ode     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     RTEAN     Halimah Perogi     Rueben Parejo     Risikat Lawal     Odo-Owa     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Elerin Of Adanla     Aliyu Muyideen     Suleiman Mora Omar     Sobi Hill     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Olaiya Lawal     Oladimeji Thompson     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Ahman Pategi University     Saka Aleshinloye     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Rebecca Bake     Al-Adaby     KWAFFA     Ogidi-Oloje     NIPOGA     Kayode Laro     Christopher Ayeni     Oya State     Adekunle David Dunmade     Sarah Alade     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Ibrahim Abdullahi     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Ilesha-Baruba     KSIRS     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Lukman Adeloyin     Samuel Adaramola     Ayo Adeyemi     Elese Of Igbaja     John Olobayo     Garuba Alikinla Shittu     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Abubakar Atiku     Olofa Of Offa     Summit University