…Applauds Sports Progress Under NSC
By Joel Ajayi
In a spirited gathering on Tuesday at the Nest Resource Centre in Abuja, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, the Executive Director of the Female Advocacy Mentoring Empowerment (FAME) Foundation, underscored the transformative power of sports for Nigerian youth. Serving as the Guest of Honour at an event organized by Dr. Dayo Israel, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atoyebi shared her vision of leveraging sports as a tool for empowerment and positive societal change.
“At FAME, we are intentional about using sports to empower young people, to create opportunities, and to drive positive change across Nigeria. Sport is not just play — it is impact, it is community, it is hope,” she passionately declared. Her words resonated with the audience, emphasizing her commitment to fostering a culture of sporting excellence that goes beyond mere competition.
Atoyebi’s extensive experience of over 20 years as a sports writer, administrator, and advocate has shaped her belief that sports is one of the most effective instruments for fostering unity and facilitating transformation. “Sport is more than competition; it is a vehicle for social change,” she asserted, challenging the notion that sports are purely recreational. Instead, she highlighted how on the playing field, distinctions related to background, religion, or tribe fade away. “What matters is teamwork, passion, and the goal. We all fly the same flag — and that is unity in its purest form,” she further explained.
Furthermore, Atoyebi commended the progress achieved within Nigeria’s sports sector under the stewardship of Malam Shehu Dikko and Chief Bukola Olopade at the National Sports Commission (NSC). Recognizing the importance of effective leadership, she urged citizens to actively support ongoing reforms in the sports sector. She emphasized that with visionary guidance, sports can serve as a unifying force and elevate Nigeria’s status on the global stage.
“Sport unifies, builds friendships, bridges divides, and sustains relationships,” Atoyebi said, invoking a sense of collective responsibility among Nigerians. She encouraged people to step back and place their trust in the expertise of professionals in the field, noting, “With the right people in charge, delivery is assured — it has been done before, and it can be done again.”