Lagos: The Chairman of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Hajj Gafar, announced that 14 students from tertiary institutions in Lagos have been granted training scholarships at the Nigeria Institute of Sports.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Gafar shared this development in an interview, stating that the recipients will join 36 other selected coaches, which brings the total number of football coaches sponsored for professional training to a higher count. The selected students include five females and nine males from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The female students awarded the scholarships are Ekun Balikis, Adeleke Ameenah, and Lawal Abibat from Lagos State University. Additionally, Afenisumen Eunice from the University of Lagos and Ogundele Olajumoke from the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology are among the beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the male students include Bello Yusuf, Usman Azeez, and Olayioye Samuel from Lagos State University. Oyewole Peter and Olukotun Damilola from the University of Lagos, along with Tokunbo Lateef from the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, were also selected. Onah Onyekachi, Adeyemi Tomisin, and Omolale David from the same institutions complete the list of recipients.

Gafar emphasized that these students will receive their football training at the NIS, which is recognized as Nigeria’s premier sports institution. He also highlighted that the training program is entirely funded by 36 Lion Investment Ltd. The initiative aligns with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of youth empowerment through football as a tool for social reengineering.