By Frank Momoh in Mosogar/Delta State
Delta State College of Education, Mosogar (COEM), has expressed support and willingness to partner with Community Sport and Education Development (CSED), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) initiative for the implementation of its Project 2027 programme.
The initiative, according to the organisers is aimed at training and equipping 1200 Physical Health Education Teachers (PHETs) and community youth that will bring Netball to the attention of 1,000,000 Nigerian students before the end of 2027.
As part of its Niger Delta training tour, a two-day basic netball training for PHETs and College of Education Lecturers, was organized by CSED in Mosogar in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The training was held on 14th and 15th of July at the indoor sports hall of COEM. Among the 41 new netball coaches were 7 staff of COEM who are Lecturers or Sport Coaches at the Physical and Health Department of the college.
COEM’s Director of Sport, Glory Orugbo made the observation while speaking during the free training clinic aimed at teaching the beneficiaries the basic skills (theory and practical) aspect of netball, so that they can impart the knowledge gained into their students.
Orugbo, who participated the training, said the institution would be keen to partner with CSED Initiative in organizing future training programmes that are geared toward developing the capacity of PHE Teachers and grassroots Coaches in the Niger Delta region, particularly in Delta State. She was also commended the event organizers a job well done.
Teachers from 17 government secondary schools, 2 government primary schools, PHE Teachers from 9 private secondary schools and one private primary school as well as additional 2 teachers from the office of the Chief Inspector of Education (C.I.E.), attended the training which was conducted by Netball Africa certified Coaches.
Aside from providing the 41 attendees with certificates, 35 of them were provided with free netball starter pack (netball balls, netball rims, finger-held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs and free green ceremonial T-shirts). The CSED representative also reassured that the shortfall in the equipment provided will be addressed within a period of two weeks.
Another participant from the college, Dr Emoghene Obodo Blessing said netball is a sport she would want to introduce into the area of specialization of future graduates of the Physical and Health Department of the school.
Similarly, in her goodwill message the Chief Inspector of Education of Ethiope West Local Government Area, Mrs. Oghajafor Ochuko Patricia applauded the CSED Initiative and the Physical and Heath Department of COEM for organizing the event. Oghajafor who was represented by Okotie Igho Precious, promised that her office will endeavour to monitor the progress in the use of the equipment donated by CSED.
Notably, netball is almost an unknown sport in Nigeria, however this particular training event was oversubscribed, as over 62 PHE teachers were trained, out of the 300 that CSED Initiative intends to train in 2022.
The event witnessed the conferment of the title of volunteer CSED Liaison Officer on Pastor Evelyn Ofoghoro, the Organising Secretary of the Delta State Sports Commission Oghara, by the CSED Initiative, for her contribution, support and mobilizing of the participants.
The NGO also lauded the support and kind gesture of the Director of Works at COEM, Engr. Anthony Okakuro before and during the capacity building event hosted by the college.