The Pillar of Sports Youth Development Foundation has been launched in Ibadan, Oyo State, after a football coaching seminar attended by more than 150 coaches.
The inauguration was held on Saturday at Moremi Hall, Academy Suites, in the Oke-Ado area of Ibadan. Former Nigeria international Felix Owolabi led the formal opening, joined by Shooting Stars Sports Club chairman Taiwo Lekan Salami, ex-Shooting Stars chairman Babatunde Olaniyan Akoro and Oyo State Deputy Chief of Staff Kazim Adeyinka Adeniyi.
Temitope Ademola Obideyi, the foundation’s founder and chairman who resides in the United States, took part online. He explained that the organisation was created to harness sport for youth development, empowerment and community change, while promising additional initiatives in sports development, education and youth empowerment throughout Oyo State.
Ajeniyi Ajewole, President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, and the Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Adegboyega Sanni, gave their backing to the foundation and urged sustained funding for using sport to develop young people.
Salami also announced a partnership between Shooting Stars and the foundation. He said the collaboration would support efforts to identify and honour former players and club legends who helped shape the team’s history.
The sports development seminar featured five sessions focused on football and wider sporting issues. University of Ibadan exercise physiology professor and FIFA instructor Oladele Oladipo examined the laws of the game; Shooting Stars match analyst Jesse Afuye discussed athletes’ psychological and emotional welfare; Jinadu Ayodeji delivered a presentation on cardiac rehabilitation; while Babateye Akinyele focused on athletes’ move into life and work after their playing careers.
At the programme’s conclusion, certificates were awarded to over 150 participating coaches.
