By Dr. Nkiru Gloria Onuorah
The Rangers International FC Foundation has expressed its readiness to partner with the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) in harnessing and nurturing the talents of school children through sports.
The delegation, led by Coach Ebere Amaraizu, alongside Edmund Ndukamma and Coach Onah, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of ENSUBEB, Associate Professor Hyginus Banko Okibe, at the Board’s headquarters in Enugu.
Speaking during the visit, Coach Amaraizu said the Foundation is committed to child development through sports, stressing the need to “catch them young.” He explained that the initiative would provide pupils with the opportunity to discover their talents early and channel their energy into productive ventures.
“We want to introduce what we do in child development through sports. It is about building character, boosting self-esteem, and helping children make informed decisions through long-term and short-term goals. With our multi-sports framework, children can explore different sporting disciplines and choose the one best suited for them,” Amaraizu stated.
In his response, ENSUBEB Executive Chairman, Assoc. Prof. Okibe, expressed gratitude to the Rangers Foundation team for their vision, describing sports as one of the greatest unifying forces in Nigeria.
He noted that the partnership would not only help develop the physical abilities of children but also shape their character and prepare them for a brighter future.
“Sports are a unifying factor in our country. It has the potential to change the lives of children, shaping them to be beneficial to themselves and to society. Indeed, it is one of the treasures that lasts for generations. What you are proposing will help us secure the future of our children, who are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
The ENSUBEB boss further urged the Rangers Foundation team to provide the Board with a detailed framework of their proposed school sports development plan.
Coach Amaraizu, on behalf of the delegation, appreciated the Chairman’s openness and ongoing efforts to transform basic education in the state. He assured that the Rangers Foundation would work closely with ENSUBEB to integrate sports into education as a tool for character development and societal growth.
The courtesy visit marks the beginning of a potential collaboration aimed at leveraging sports to unlock the potential of school children across Enugu State.
Coach Ebere Amaraizu, who is also a trained and certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Coach, as well as an Olympic Sports Administrator and Manager, emphasized that the Foundation’s sports intervention framework would promote multi-sports activities among children.
He explained that the initiative would help children develop a love for sports, learn responsibility, make informed choices, and become responsive leaders. It would also support behaviour modification, holistic wellness, resilience building, and stronger self-esteem for sustainable development.
