Youth empowerment advocate and founder of the Fame Foundation, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, has reiterated her commitment to harnessing the transformative power of sports to effect social change and uplift young people in Nigeria.
She made the commitment while speaking to journalists on the sideline of a special event hosted by the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), titled: “Evening with NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko,” in Abuja.
The veteran sports writer turned sports development advocate expressed her confidence in the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) under Shehu Dikko, noting his past successes and asserting that he is poised to elevate Nigerian sports to new heights.
“Sports is not just a tool for unifying Nigerians; it fosters friendships and relationships across the globe,” Aderonke stated. She reflected on her two decades of experience in the industry, declaring, “I consider myself a veteran sports administrator. With a background as a sports writer and now as a sports for development enthusiast, I firmly believe in sports’ ability to bring people together. It serves as a powerful instrument for driving social change and unity within our society.”
Aderonke pointed out that during national sporting events, citizens set aside their differences in religion, ethnicity, and background, coming together to proudly display the Nigerian green-white-green colours.
“At Fame Foundation, we are purposeful in our mission, collaborating with my team to leverage sports as a vehicle for empowerment, support, and improving the lives of youth in Nigeria,” she added.
She praised Dikko’s assertion that sports unify people and foster lasting relationships, calling on Nigerians to trust in his leadership. “Nigerians should give Shehu Dikko the benefit of the doubt; he has demonstrated his capability before and is more than capable of achieving even greater success this time.”
As discussions around sports development continue, Atoyebi’s vision for using sports as a catalyst for change remains a beacon of hope for many young Nigerians seeking empowerment and unity in their communities.
