At least 80 refugees have been selected as part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Cricket Federation to provide psychosocial support to IDPs in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The refugees were largely displaced Cameroonians drawn from three camps in the LGA–Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Ukende.
The psychosocial support is aimed at providing the displaced with knowledge in computing/coding while fostering a sense of belonging while in the settlement and the community.
Supervised by Bibiana Ngwenifun, the leader of Adagom 1 Camp, the event contained an equal number of females as NCF development officers exposed new cricket players and 10 first-time trainee coaches to the basics of the game.
The 3-day training covered topics ranging from introduction to cricket and its laws to fitness drills and bowling techniques.
The end of the event saw NCF’s distribution of start-up packs for cricket training to the sports leaders of Adagom 1 and 3 camps.
Dr. Macfarlane Ejah, the Chairman of the Cross River State Cricket Association, said that the association would build on the success of the training to develop grassroots cricket in Ogoja and within the camps.
“Going forward, based on the NCF experience of using cricket to support IDPs in Uhogua Camp in Edo State, the current leadership of the NCF is expected to support their new cricket coverts by using cricket to provide them with Psycho-social support, empower them in terms of using the game of cricket to learn soft skills like computing/coding, as well as promoting tolerance and respect for each other. More importantly, living in peace and harmony with the other residents of Ogoja community is also a priority.”
This gesture by the NCF mirrors a recent act of charity for IDPs by MedGlobe Initiative in Durumi camp, in Abuja, where medical services and materials were doled out.
The Nigerian Cricket Federation (NCF) has selected 80 refugees from the Ogoja Local Government Area in Cross River State for a psychosocial support initiative. These refugees, primarily displaced Cameroonians from Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Ukende camps, received training in computing/coding and cricket. The three-day event included cricket basics, fitness drills, and bowling techniques, and was overseen by Bibiana Ngwenifun, leader of Adagom 1 Camp. Participants received cricket training starter packs. Dr. Macfarlane Ejah, Chairman of the Cross River State Cricket Association, emphasized the benefits of cricket training in developing grassroots cricket and promoting peace within the community.
