NSC, Cityboy Movement forge partnership on youth empowerment

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By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 
 
 

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged its support for programmes of the Cityboy Movement aimed at improving the livelihoods of young Nigerians and expanding opportunities for youth development across the country.

Chairman of the NSC, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, made the commitment when he received the Youth Leader of the Cityboy Movement, Sokoto State Chapter, and former Nigerian international, Alhaji Shehu Abdullahi, at his office.

Dikko said the commission was open to partnerships capable of creating meaningful opportunities for young people, particularly through sports, grassroots talent development and structured programmes designed to promote sustainable livelihoods.

According to him, the engagement provided an avenue to explore the role of sports in broader youth empowerment efforts, stressing that the commission would support credible youth-focused initiatives aligned with its vision for grassroots sports development.

He said sports could provide young Nigerians with opportunities not only to develop their talents but also to gain employment, pursue entrepreneurship and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Earlier, Abdullahi said the delegation was at the NSC to strengthen collaboration on the Youth Employment Programme Initiative (YEP I), a grassroots-focused scheme designed to create sustainable opportunities for young people in Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West.

He explained that YEP I adopts a multi-sectoral approach covering sports development, digital empowerment, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, renewable energy, creative industries and youth investment.

Abdullahi said the initiative would also focus on identifying and nurturing sporting talents at the grassroots while supporting football academies with equipment and other resources.

He added that the programme was designed to provide competitive platforms for young athletes and improve access to sports and technology facilities, especially in communities outside major urban centres.

The former international stressed that effective youth development could not be achieved through a single sector, noting that sports remained a powerful vehicle for talent discovery, employment creation, entrepreneurship and social development.

He commended Dikko for receiving the delegation and praised the NSC chairman for his efforts to revive sporting activities and strengthen the development of sports in Nigeria.

The proposed partnership between the NSC and the Cityboy Movement is expected to promote grassroots participation, identify emerging sporting talents and connect young people with opportunities in sports, technology, entrepreneurship and other areas of economic empowerment.

It will also seek to strengthen youth development structures in communities across Sokoto State and the wider North-West, with sports positioned as a catalyst for employment, talent development and broader social advancement.

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