U.S plans programme for youths in Nigeria’s IDP camps

NTF moves to Maiduguri ‘Farm Centre’

The United States government is planning a sports programme that will engage and develop children in the internally displaced peoples camps (IDP) in the country.

Speaking at the end of a three-day Baseball Tomorrow Youth Camp conducted by a former Major League Baseball Pitcher, Jeremy Guthrie in conjunction with the U. S Embassy in Abuja, U.S. Information Officer, Russell Brook said aside the just concluded Baseball Camp, the embassy was working with local organisations to bring American football and basketball, among other sports, to develop the female players in the country. He added that the IDP’s children required to be developed to be fruitful in future.

“We are also working to ensure the internally displaced people’s children as well as the youths in the IDP camp are engaged in sporting activities. We are looking at the IDP youths in terms of international football. Sports can be utilised as a means of re-enforcing the strong bilateral relationship that we have by our two countries. We’re sure that is coming soon,” he added.

To Guthrie, there were key issues to be addressed for the sport to have a root in Nigeria. These he listed as acceptance and national recognition, as well as introducing baseball in schools and providing equipment and funding for the sport to have a root in the country.

“Baseball is a major sport in the US, and for it to have a root in Nigeria, it has to be accepted and recognised. The sport requires time, funding and it is required to be introduced in schools,” Guthrie said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) was at the ‘Farm Center’ IDP camp in Maiduguri, Borno State over the weekend to spread the sport to the inhabitants of the centre.

While at the camp, the NTF distributed some taekwondo equipment and explored the possibility of introducing taekwondo to a couple of the IDP camps.

The 20-person contingent led by the NTF President, Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Binga engaged over 200 children in taekwondo training and physical exercises.

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