Dr Ufuoma Abundance Ekaba has donated sporting equipment to the Owodokpokpo-Igbide Youth Local Football Team in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, as part of efforts to promote youth development and sports activities in the community.
The donation, which was aimed at encouraging the youths to take active part in sports, particularly football, was described as an investment in discipline, teamwork, unity and healthy living among the younger generation.
Speaking during the presentation, Ekaba said football and other sporting activities could provide opportunities for young people to discover and develop their talents, while also helping to keep them physically and mentally fit.
He, however, cautioned the youths against relying solely on football as a means of securing their future, urging them to combine their sporting ambitions with education and skills acquisition.
According to him, while football can open doors for talented youths, education and vocational skills remain important pillars for sustainable success, especially when their active sporting careers come to an end.
He urged the youths to remain focused and disciplined, stressing that their energy should be channelled towards productive activities that would benefit them, their families and the wider Igbide community.
Ekaba also admonished the youths to shun cultism, drug abuse, internet fraud, violence, laziness and other social vices capable of destroying their future.
He said: “Football is better with education. Play hard, but study harder. Learn a skill. Your education and your handwork will sustain you when your boots are off.”
He further encouraged the young footballers to be good ambassadors of Igbide, adding that responsible youths would play a critical role in determining the future development of the community.
The donor urged the beneficiaries to make discipline, hard work and focus their guiding principles, assuring them that the community believes in their potential.
He said the initiative was also intended to strengthen the bond among young people through sports and provide a positive platform for them to interact, build friendships and develop teamwork.
The donation has been welcomed as a boost to youth sporting activities in Owodokpokpo-Igbide, with stakeholders expected to continue supporting initiatives that combine sports development with education, character-building and skills acquisition.
