The Minister of Sports, John Owan-Enoh, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, have declared support for the Nigeria Youth League Cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they pledged their support for the league on the sidelines of the Nigeria Youth League Gala/Awards Night on Sunday in Abuja.
Enoh said he was interested in any initiative that would promote grassroots sports development in the country, hence the Ministry would give its full support to the Nigeria Youth League Cup.
The minister, who was represented by Orok Effanga, his Special Adviser on Strategy, said collaboration with organisers of the Nigeria Youth League Cup was a no brainer.
“In this case, we are talking grassroots football development, even though we superintend all other sports.
“We are pleased when we find partnerships or collaborations with organisations, bodies or individuals that we can work with to develop our sports at the grassroots all the way to the elite level.
“When we looked at the plan, we thought that it was a great idea which provides a great platform for our young footballers to showcase their talents, hone their skills and go on to compete at the highest level,” he said.
Elegbeleye said the N-Youth League was an attractive asset that would help boost the quality of the NPFL.
Elegbeleye, who was represented by Dalandi Ibrahim, the Secretary of the NPFL, said the emergence of the N-Youth League Cup would assist the young players with a platform to showcase their talents.
He added that it would ensure that some of these players added quality to the NPFL.
“The NPFL’s support for the N-Youth League Cup started last year in Saudi Arabia during the African World Football Summit.
“This was the first time we had a contact with the organiser and sincerely it was an attractive asset that we believed would ginger the NPFL.
“That was why we gave our full support to the programme.
“If you look at the Nigerian football scene at the moment, it is full of various academies, but there is no platform to showcase their talents to clubs within and abroad,” he said.
Robinson Adakosa, President and Founder of the Nigeria Youth League Cup, stressed that its objective was to create a league that give young players the platform to hone their skills.
Adakosa said it would also prepare them for the professional world, both on and off the field.
“The Nigeria Youth League Cup is not just a competition; it is a technology-driven league that will utilise state-of-the-art cameras, software applications, and equipment across 841 games during the 2024/2025 season.
“This innovation raises the operational cost to N4 billion, but it also ensures that we are setting the highest standards for youth football in Africa,” he said.
He said the league was borne out of a deep desire to channel the country’s football passion into a structured platform.
He added that the league was a vision that had been close to his heart for many years.
“Football, as we all know, is more than just a game in Nigeria – it is a unifying force, a passion that transcends barriers of language, religion, and culture.
“It is a source of pride, joy, and, for many, the embodiment of hope.
“So, I came up with a platform to showcase the talents that abound in Nigeria, and also provide a professional pathway for our young athletes to achieve their dreams on the world stage,” he said.
He called on sponsors from the corporate world, private institutions as well as philanthropists to help drive the process.
He said this would help create an enduring legacy that for future generations.
He stressed that their contributions would go a long way in helping the organisers cover essential costs and organise impactful events.
“We are not just here to raise funds; we are here to invest in the future of Nigerian football.
“We are just at the beginning of this journey, and to bring this vision to life, we need your continued partnership,” he said. (NAN)