It was all joy and celebrations for 14 outstanding players of the just concluded Noah Dallaji legacy U-17 Basketball Tournament who were awarded scholarships to further their education outside the shores of Nigeria.
At a well attended event at the African Children Talents and Discovery Foundation, ACTDF, head office in Kado Estate, Abuja, on Monday, five of the players were unveiled as part of the first batch that will jet out of Nigeria in the next two weeks to Canada and United States of America.
The five players are; Emmanuel Peters from Bauchi State, Taiwo Abraham from Kebbi, Samuel Alphonso, Daubunachule Ibrahim and Solomon Ominu all from Kaduna will travel to their different schools in America to further their study and basketball careers.
The ACTDF Chairman, Noah Dallaji while congratulating them, said the organization is a non profit foundation aimed at discovery and development of talents
” Talent discovery is important, but much more important, is talent development and enhancement. Therefore we hope that by this scholarships, they will further enhance and improve their skills for a better future “.
He urged the players to be focus, humble and be discipline while in the foreign land.
“Each of you has been given a scholarship worth 300, 000 dollars for the pursuit of your academic carrier, we will monitor you to make sure that you are in line with why you travelled. If found wanton, we will not hesitate to return you back home”, Noal Dallaji warned.
The U-17 Noah Dallaji legacy Basketball Tournament Director, Olumide Oyedeji, who was a former Captain of Nigeria’s National Basketball team, D’Tigers, said the remaining players will soon sign their documents and will travel soon. He said more players from the Kano Tournament will also benefit from the foundation largess.
Among personalities that graced the event include Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sports and former Super Eagles International, Daniel Omokachi popularly known as ‘The Bull”, 1996 Olympic Gold medalist, Emmanuel Babayaro and former Captain of DR Congo National team, Tresor Lomana Lualua who last played as a striker for Newcastle and Portsmouth in UK, Comedian AY, Politician, FCT SWAN Chairman, Bunmi Haruna, as well as Chairman, Kaduna State Basketball Association, Pastor Skambo Morrison.
