Governing Bodies
NIGERIA: MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT WILL SCALE UP YOUTH PROGRAMMES
Nigeria’s Minister of
Youth and Sport Development, Sunday Dare, has assured that the Ministry will
build on the capacity of programmes already earmarked for the youth and scale
them up to reach more beneficiaries in pursuit of government’s objective of
employment and wealth creation.
The Minister, who addressed participants of N-Power Software at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday during a working visit, promised that opportunities to be created from such expanded programmes will be accessible to all interested youth.
He said, “One of the plans we have is DY.NG; it is a plan to train our youth to make them employable. The ministry will partner with this programme (N-Power Software) to make sure that we ratchet up this programme. So that in the coming year we can reach more of you in the thousands.
“We would build on the capacity of the programmes already earmarked for the youth. We will not reinvent the wheel.
“The Ministry will be able to bring several of your colleagues to benefit. We have youth centres spread across the country that we will use to achieve this.”
To further explain, Mr. Dare said, “It will be a transparent system because there will be a digital footprint. Wherever you are in this country, you have the opportunity to access whatever programme there are for youth in this country.”
The Minister expressed delight at N-Power Software organised by the Presidency, saying the youth were on their way to being part of the digital wealth economy of the 21st century.
He also said that part of the mandate handed down to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development was to create opportunities for young people to plug into the opportunities of the 21st century.
Mr. Dare urged the selected 2000 to count themselves lucky and work hard to achieve the set objectives of the program, while adding that the digital skill gap in Nigeria provides an added advantage for them to get jobs after the training.
He also intimated on the Ministry’s plans for the youth, part of which is to help 500,000 young people acquire digital skills in two years, create an avenue for them to get access to information for opportunities through an online platform, among others.
While addressing the media after the event, the Minister said, “I am excited at what I have seen today. It forms part of the larger vision. The President says to keep the youth busy in whatever way, but especially, there’s a commitment to providing them with digital skills. What is happening here today, 2000 youth from across the North will be here for three months, and will be equipped with digital skills to self-start themselves.”
He said that the program will be replicated across the states with the Federal Government as the driver, providing encouragement for the state governments to embark on similar programs like the one in Abuja.
The Minister, while further highlighting the benefits of the program, said, it has first succeeded in taking the 2000 number of young people away from social vices like drug abuse, kidnapping and the likes among other benefits.
He promised that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development would support the program to ensure that more youth have access to the digital skills needed for in contemporary time.
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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