NFF, Interior Ministry commit to reintegration project for the girl-child in correctional centres

An initiative of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate into the society, young girls who are in correctional centres across the country, has been received with great enthusiasm by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

The Minister, who applauded the NFF for the noble concept, after a presentation by NFF executive committee member and chairman Women’s Football Sub-Committee, Aisha Falode, vowed to set machinery in motion to ensure the realization of the objectives attached to the initiative.

“I am hugely impressed by this presentation which shows clearly that the NFF is aware of its responsibilities to the community aside from preparing our national teams for matches and tournaments. The reason why there is always an upshoot in the number of persons in correctional centres is that when they are released, they have nowhere to go other than the place from where they ended up in the centre. I see this project as filling that gap for them, giving them hope and the means by which to bring that hope to reality.

“A ‘correctional centre’ is different from a ‘prison’. While the former is a place of correction, reformation and rebirth, a prison is a place of incarceration. Those in correctional centres should have the opportunity to get reformed and reintegrate back into the society. The NFF has wowed me with this. Sport is not just a means of entertainment; it is the biggest instrument that can bridge the gap between the powerful and the vulnerable.”

NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, had earlier in his remarks, told the Minister that the Federation believes it has services to render to the community at large apart from organising football matches and has thus picked on the vexed issue of the growing number of girls in correctional centres as a first initiative.

“We are primed to use the instrumentality of football to collaborate with relevant agencies and ministries to activate processes for the reform and rehabilitation of these young ladies so that they can be reintegrated into the society and be useful to themselves and the society.

“The NFF is ready and willing to go the whole distance on this project. We will work with relevant Agencies and Ministries and network with organisations and foundations to arrange vocational training for these girls in order that they will have a future.”

Falode’s presentation, titled “FootballGood-Naija; EmpowerHer”, highlighted rising figures of ladies in correctional centres across the country, as well as those awaiting trial and those already convicted. The presentation was pegged on the ‘Gender Empowerment’ initiative of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which pilot programs had taken place in Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia.

Among its objectives are: to support better reintegration prospects post-release; improve physical and mental well-being; develop and enhance life skills and self-esteem; foster a culture of sportsmanship, discipline and teamwork; identify and develop football refereeing and coaching potentials and; use football as a tool for education, skill-building and leadership development among young people.