By Godwin Otang
Thirty-eight (38) participants including two Cameronians have benefited from the Community Sports Education Development (CSED) two-day seminar on netball for physical education teachers in Cross River State.
Beneficiaries of the training include two Cameronians and 36 Nigerians, mostly females. The initiative organizers say is aimed at the Girl Child development.
The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) says 7.6 million girls are out of school in Nigeria; out of which 3.9 million are in primary while 3.7 in junior secondary levels.
The basic Netball training, a “Project 2027,” initiative of the CSED, is aimed to provide Nigerian school children and youth (especially the girl-child) access to learn and play the game of netball in a safe space.
The Seminar was held at the Table Tennis Hall of the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
According to the organizers, netball is the only sport specifically designed for girls and women globally. CSED officials noted that the initiative sees the game of netball as a tool to promote the general health and well-being of the girl-child, as well as empower them to blend with sports and academics.
Participants from various secondary schools across the State and three Cameroonian refugees representing the Cameroon communities living in Adagom-1, Adagom-3, and Ukende camps in Ogoja LGA, are beneficiaries. Edema Fuludu, Ifiok Inim, and Dr. Grace Ataha were facilitators.
In her remarks, Cross River State Director of schools from the Ministry of Education Mrs. Okama U. Amos expressed joy the training targeted females; which she said is key to girl child growth.
Director of Sports in the State Sports Commission, Mr. Moses Ita urged participants to utilize the knowledge gained during the training as their post-training actions “will lead to the development of the game of netball in Cross River State.”