Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, has boasted that the organisation under his care has reduced unemployment in Nigeria through sports.
Men and officers of the corps, he said, has represented the country at various international sporting events with unaccountable laurels, thereby making the athletes established international figures.
He said this during the open trial championship organised by the Nigerian Judo Federation (NJF), in preparation for the forthcoming All African Games (AAG).
While lamenting the plight of Nigerian youths for lack of employment, he said Nigeria has a lot of blessed young men and women whose talents are yet to be harnessed in full.
“I know that (members of) this corps have done well in sports, both at the local and international levels. Most of them, I can tell you, were discovered from a state of hopelessness to stardom,” he said, pledging to relate with the judo federation even in his absence.
He advised senior officers to continue in association with sports, as it disciplines the body. The man, who is nicknamed the ‘Icon of Sports’, advocates the judicious utilisation of funds approved for the training of athletes.
While admonishing the executive board of the NJF, he said the game has much prospects if well handled by people of proven integrity who know the plight of the athletes.
Abolurin, who was decorated by the NJF as grand patron and blue belter, while playing host to the two-day trials at the Civil Defence Academy, Abuja, stressed that the honour given to him was for the corps, whose legacy will remain even after his departure.
“I appreciate the gesture, even when I am on the way out. But it will live as a reference point to the good work the corps have rendered in the development of sports and in creating employment opportunities,” said he.
He, however, bemoaned the neglect of sports men and women by the administrators who invite them to championships.
“Athletes should be honoured when they win or lose. One annoying thing is that sometimes they are abandoned on arrival because they did not win. In the past, it was handshake which demoralises them. But today we are proud of what we have done, as many of them can boast of three square meals through sports.”
While speaking before conferring the grand patronship to Abolurin, the President of NJF, Dr. Musa Oshodi, reiterated his board’s readiness in surpassing the target given to it by the National Sports Commission (NSC). He also thanked NSCDC for playing host to NJF.
According to Oshodi, athletes selected in the trials will soon embark on international training camp of Benin Republic, Togo, and Ghana prior to NSC national camping for the All African Games.
