FAME Foundation has officially launched the PLAY it DREAM it Football Boot-camp for Internally Displaced Girls. The aim is to mentor and equip under-served and Internally Displaced Girls within the FCT with life skills on the field of football, which will, in turn, result in the quality education of girls, reduction in the occurrences of early marriage, and increasing girl’s participation in sporting activities.

Present at the occasion, which was held on January 29, 2021, at the Area 3 football pitch, Garki, Abuja was Amina Daura; Head of Women’s Football, NFF, Mr. Sunday Dare; Minister for Youths and Social Development, who was represented by Amb. Mary Onyali; former Nigerian sprinter, Representatives of Dame Pauline Tallen; Minister for Women Affairs, FAME staff and volunteers, and IDP Girls from different camps within Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Aderonke Bello, Executive Director, FAME Foundation, welcomed and thanked everyone in attendance.

She stated that PLAY it DREAM it, is an initiative of FAME Foundation aimed at using sports as a tool for the achievements of SDGs 3, 4, 5, and 10 by improving girls wellbeing in underserved/ hard to reach communities, improve access to quality and affordable education, promote gender equality and contribute to the reduction in inequalities among girls in crises situations with a focus on Internally Displaced Girls and young girls in Nigeria.

“At FAME Foundation, we believe sports is a powerful tool, which when implemented strategically can cause immense change and development in our lives and society, and it is with this we hope to mentor and educate girls on the field of football. Aside from the project beneficiaries from IDP Camps, other girls from different schools across the FCT will also benefit from the initiative, with the commencement of the PLAY it DREAM it Girls club”, she said.

Into the event, Ambassador Mary Onyalli, representative of the Minister for Youths and Sports Development officially launched the PLAY it DREAM it boot camp.

Amina Daura, Head of Women’s football, NFF further admonished the Internally Displaced Girls, she encouraged them to be hardworking and not allow their circumstances to determine their future.

A representative of the project beneficiaries appreciated FAME Foundation and her partners for the opportunity given them in Hausa language.

“Thank you for the opportunity to also participate in sporting, as it is usually the boys who go out to play football. We promise to put in our best”, she said.

Finally, the event compere brought the launching to an end by thanking the guests and participants of the event.

The first  boot-camp event will be held on February 28, 2021.