Federal Character Commission (FCC) Executive Chairman Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran has urged the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA) and the FCT Sports Department to establish Abuja as Nigeria’s leading centre for discovering sporting talent.
She made the appeal when FCT FA chairman Abba Mohammed Mouktar and the acting director of the FCT Sports Department, Iyiola Ogundele, paid a courtesy call at the FCC headquarters in Abuja.
Omidiran challenged the sports authorities to improve grassroots facilities, promote equal access throughout the capital’s six Area Councils and restore organised coaching programmes in schools.
“The FCT should lead the identification of sporting talent—not just in football, but across every discipline. We must act deliberately and recognise sport as an avenue capable of increasing Nigeria’s wealth,” Omidiran said. She proposed using teachers who possess sporting expertise as coaches initially, while plans are developed to recruit qualified professionals.
Her remarks came after she attended the opening of the FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament at the Area 3 Football Pitch last Friday, where the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recorded a 7-0 victory over Gwagwalada.
The former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee member and first FIFA Women’s Football Committee member also voiced serious alarm about the decline of women’s sport in the country.
“It hurts me deeply that Nigeria is now unable even to reach the Women’s World Cup. If there is a moment to alter the situation, it is now,” she said, advocating targeted funding to rebuild Nigeria’s international reputation.
Earlier, Mouktar praised Omidiran’s contribution to grassroots development, including the establishment of Omidiran Babes. He said a formal partnership with the FCC could assist in bringing the Area Councils together for national competitions.
Ogundele said the proposed cooperation would extend beyond football to other sports, gymnastics among them, creating organised development routes for young athletes in communities across the territory.
