Ministry pledges support for youth empowerment through sports
August 9, 2026 5:38 pm
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande
The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the Onyeka Ikenga Football Academy, saying the initiative will help discover and develop young football talents in Nigeria.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stated this on Saturday in Abuja during the unveiling of the academy’s Under-17 team.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Public Engagement, Omoleye Adedoyin, the minister described the academy as an important platform for identifying young talents and giving them the opportunity to develop their skills.
Olawande said the government would continue to support initiatives capable of empowering young Nigerians and creating opportunities for them through sports.
“Being here today is an opportunity for me. Being right here shows that there are people who are committed to football and sports, and we want our young children to grow and be proud of us,” he said.
The minister added, “This is a platform where talents can be identified. There are also many young people who are willing to do more. From here, it is a stepping stone for them to go higher and put into practice whatever they have learned.”
The Chairman of the occasion, Moses Ebute, SAN, said he was optimistic that the academy would produce players capable of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Ebute urged the young players to remain disciplined and committed to their development, stressing that they could become future stars of the Super Eagles.
“I am proud of this organisation because I know that, by God’s grace, some of the products of this academy will end up at the Super Eagles level, and one day they will turn around to become stars of this world,” he said.
The Chairperson of the football club, Ngozi Ikenga, said the academy was established in July 2023 following the vision of her late daughter, Onyeka Ikenga.
According to her, Onyeka was passionate about football and believed in using the sport to empower young people.
She said the unveiling of the Under-17 team was held on Onyeka’s posthumous birthday to sustain her legacy.
“Onyeka Ikenga was a very good football lover. In fact, she was the visionary behind this project because she started the academy before she passed away,” Ikenga said.
She disclosed that one of the academy’s Under-17 players had secured an opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia to join a football club.
Ikenga said the academy’s football development programme would become an annual event.
“It is something that has come to stay,” she added.
The Director of Sports of the Onyeka Ikenga Football Club, Lawrence Ikenga, said the academy was established to develop young people through football.
He said professional and FIFA-certified coaches and scouts were involved in identifying promising players.
The event featured a novelty match between a selected Under-17 team and the Onyeka Ikenga Football Academy, which the academy won 5-0.
In the Under-13 tournament, 10 teams competed for honours, with Onyeka Ikenga Football Academy defeating Karu Football Academy 2-0 in the final.
The winners received N200,000 and a trophy, while Karu Football Academy received N100,000 and a trophy. De Baggio FC, which finished third, received N50,000.
Effiong Nfonso of Karu Football Academy emerged as the tournament’s highest goal scorer with four goals, while Ijere Ijere of Onyeka Ikenga Football Academy was named Best Goalkeeper.
William Ikenga of Ikenga FC won the Most Valuable Player award.
The academy was established in memory of Onyeka Ikenga, who died after a brief illness on January 11, 2024.
Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.
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