Over 500 children between the ages of 5 to 16 years have participated in a four-day Basketball Clinic for boys and girls in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
The clinic, which is the first of its kind for children in Calabar, was organized by the Amenomo Foundation in conjunction with the Naval Officers Wives Association, NOWA.
Amenomo Foundation is a non-profit organization owned by Finland-based ex-international basketball star, Umoru Henry established to identify and groom young talents to embrace basketball as a career.
Catching them young
The national president of NOWA, Mrs. Nana Gambo, said the basketball clinic was held as part of its efforts to develop the hearts and minds of children from a tender age for greater responsibility and imbibe discipline.
Gambo acknowledged that training was beneficial for early child development, saying “training and development helps organizations and individuals gain and retain top talents, increase job satisfaction and morale, this worthy endeavour is an affirmation of our untiring efforts to provide desired training in order to improve the mental capacity of our children.”
She stated further that NOWA had made other landmark achievements in child education, health and welfare of mothers such as the construction of a 200-bed children’s hospital in Abuja.
She added that; “This clinic further underscores the determination of the NOWA leadership not only to provide infrastructure and capacity development but consciously empower our young minds through sports.”
While expressing appreciation to the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade and his wife, Linda for enabling the use of the basketball court at the U. J.Esuene stadium, she lauded the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo for the support and encouragement to NOWA.
Professional training
The Coordinator of NOWA, Mrs. Habbiba Dewu also said that the youngsters were trained by professionals in the field of basketball and for easy administration in view of their large numbers, were categorized into three camps.
Dewu explained, “campers between ages 5 to 16 registered for the clinic. For ease of administration, they were divided into mini campers, cadet campers and junior campers respectively. All these children were trained by professional coaches and consequently engaged in competitions.”
Harnessing talents
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Amenomo Foundation, Umoru Henry, who is a former international basketball star in Finland, said that “the mission of my charity is to harness young talents and groom their interest in sporting activities through basketball.”
He attributed the success recorded in the training of the boys and girls to the collaboration with the Naval Officers Wives Association, the Nigerian Navy particularly the Eastern Naval Command.
He said, “I am delighted and encouraged by your presence, interest and support in building the next generation of sportsmen and women in this country.”
The climax of the basketball training was the presentation of prizes and awards to the most valuable players, most punctual player, best defensive players and to Dr. Linda Ayade, the wife of the Cross River State Governor, who was represented by the Director General of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong.
Olusola Akintonde
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