Canadian-Nigerian actor, screenwriter, film producer and director Pascal Atuma has partnered with the Katsina State Government to develop a football academy.
Atuma announced the partnership in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.
Justifying the initiative, he said it is a quest to develop young talents in Nigeria. Having accumulated years of experience in the talent industry, spanning film, television, music and football, the filmmaker said he recognizes the importance of support in unlocking youth potential.
Atuma, Co-Chairman and Co-Founder of Tabic Football Club, says this collaborative effort is aimed at discovering and cultivating Nigeria's hidden football gems in Katsina State. It will provide them with resources such as state-of-the-art training facilities and expertise from experienced coaches to reach their full potential and become world-class athletes.
He said: “While some societies have made significant progress in talent development, Nigeria must also prioritize the empowerment of its abundant young talent.” This belief drives my enthusiasm for our innovative tripartite partnership between Tabic Sporting Outfit, Katsina State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development/Katsina Football Academy and Bondy Football Academy, Paris, France.
Filmmaker Pascal Atuma and the Katsina State Government will develop a football academy.
“Together, we will identify and develop raw talent through a transparent and merit-based selection process, provide world-class training and mentoring, and foster international exposure and opportunities. “This partnership embodies our commitment to empowering the youth of Nigeria and shaping the future of football excellence.”
During the last meeting, where the details of the agreement were discussed, the filmmaker said that the Katsina State Government was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Lawal Aliyu Zakari, Sani Mustapha Bello (Chairman of the Committee Sports, Katsina State House of Assembly) and Ahmed Mohammed (Chairman Katsina Football Academy)
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Bondy Academy was represented by its CEO, Aacim Zahiri, Sports Director, Jamel Zahiri and Co-Founder/Director, Mahamadou Yate.
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The association aims to discover and develop new and young football talents in Katsina State and Nigeria as a whole.
During the meeting held at the Bondy Academy headquarters in Paris, France, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development of Katsina State, Lawal Aliyu Zakari, explained his commitment to the project that the mandate of the Executive Governor of the state, Dikko Umaru Radda will seek to develop and form strategic partnerships around the world to develop youth and sports.
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''I thanked the state delegation and the Bondy Academy group for committing to the association. By empowering the youth of Nigeria, this partnership seeks to shape the future of football excellence, producing the next generation of global African stars such as Victor Osihmen, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.
This partnership represents a new dawn for youth and sports development in Katsina State, Nigeria and Africa, and its potential impact is substantial. With the right support and resources, Nigeria's young talents can shine on the world stage, inspiring a new generation of global African stars,'' the filmmaker said in the statement.