IDPs given hope of better future with football outreach

The Internally Displaced Persons were given a platform to enjoy themselves through te game of football.

Through the sports for hope initiative by Nigerian sports journalist Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, a match between the Internally Displaced Persons and selected side took place on Wednesday, April 6 at the Gongola Settlement for the IDPs.

The football match to commemorate the UN day on sports for peace and development, ended in a 1 -1 draw before resulting to penalties which the IDP’s eventually won.

An American NGO, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) carried out free HIV tests with counselling, while a football juggler entertained the audience.

A match between the female football team ended 1 – 0 in favour of IDP Queens FC.

Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, the special guest of honour was presented an award for his efforts on sports development in Nigeria and during his speech thanked all the people who made the day a resounding success.

“Events like this demonstrate the commitment of fellow human being together and above all when you have people from different countries coming to associate and fraternise with people who are displaced that shows the fact the humanity and mankind is interested in their condition; we cannot thank you enough for what you are doing,” Dalung said.

“It was truly a pleasure to be with the IDPs, we appreciate everyone and we ask them to take from us these donations,” Ehab a player from Egypt said on behalf of the diplomatic community.

Organiser of the event, Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello thanked all the people who made the event a success.

“From the bottom of my heart, I say a huge thanks to the partners of the event, it is such a joy to see the genuine smiles and joy on the faces of the vulnerable ones, they all appreciated the gifts. I am using this opportunity to reach out to everyone to remember the IDPs, they need you and I, lets extend our hands of love to them.”

The event was endorsed by Super Eagles players, Odion Ighalo, Victor Moses, and Godfrey Oboabona and supported by The Nigeria Football Federation, Nigerian Red Cross, AHF, The Likeminds Projects, LAF, and UN.