Lagos youth empowerment shines light on sports

A youth empowerment initiative that links sports with technology and environmental sustainability has been launched in Lagos, with students from 10 schools receiving technology devices and sports equipment.

The third edition of Project 9-12 was organised by JustUsed Tech in partnership with Passback, with support from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and other partners. It is aimed at widening access to digital tools and sporting opportunities for young people.

The participating schools are Wesley Girls’ Senior Secondary School; Lagos City Senior College, Sabo-Yaba; Aiyetoro Senior Grammar School, Ebute-Metta; Oke-Odo Junior High School; Mainland Senior High School, Fadeyi; Mainland Junior High School, Fadeyi; Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Sabo-Yaba; Victokev Schools, Ikorodu; Jibowu Junior High School, Yaba; and Eletu Odibo Senior High School, Abule-Oja, Yaba.

The Lagos State Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, said initiatives combining youth development, technology, sports and sustainability could help shape responsible citizens.

“Anything that has to do with our young ones, because they are the growing economy; anything that has to do with technology, because that is the next frontier; and anything that has to do with community, because that is the basis of any economy, should bring a lot of excitement,” she said.

Oshodi said sports could be used to engage young people while introducing them to environmental sustainability. “Sports is a very strong passion point of the youth. You will see that they will catch their attention. The young ones like their gadgets, and they enjoy what they do,” she added.

She urged young people to embrace responsible waste disposal, noting that discarded items could have economic value when properly collected and recycled. She said the state government was working towards an ecosystem involving government, communities and the private sector in waste collection, recycling and value creation.

The Head of Operations and Programmes Lead at JustUsed Tech, Hazel Iwendi, said the project was created after the organisation identified limited access to technology and sports equipment among young people in communities.

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“Project 9-12 is an initiative for technology assets and sports assets. We noticed that a lot of children do not have access to technology and sports equipment, and we thought, why not have a combined event where people gain access to sports kits and technology and empower them to be better?” Iwendi said.

She disclosed that the programme would be extended beyond the 10 schools to other districts, communities and, eventually, other states.

The Director of Partnerships, Grant Management and Innovations at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Olabisi Shonibare, described the initiative as a welcome development.

“This is a welcome development for the youths. To catch the youths, you need innovations like this. It is about IT and technology, and it is about sports,” she said.

Shonibare said electronic waste remained a critical sustainability issue and urged residents to sort waste at source for proper recycling. She added that combining sports with environmental education would make the message easier for young people to understand and retain.