In commemoration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) and the CSED Initiative collaborated to organize a transformative cricket training program from the 6th to the 8th of April 2024. Held at the Adagom 1 playground in the Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, the initiative aimed to introduce the sport to eighty Cameroonian refugees residing in the camp. Additionally, ten volunteer trainee cricket coaches were initiated into the game during the event. Bibiana Ngwenifun, the Leader of Adagom 1 Camp, ensured gender equality by actively involving female participants in the training.
Led by NCF Development Officer Blessing Etim and Patrick Edididong, the training program covered the fundamental aspects of cricket over three days. The curriculum included fitness drills, basic batting, bowling, and fielding techniques on the first day. Subsequent sessions combined classroom-based instruction with practical field training, focusing on cricket laws, batting, and bowling demonstrations. The event culminated in a practice game between residents of Adagom 1 and Adagom 3 camps, fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship.
Representatives from Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Ukende camps actively participated in the training, reflecting a unified effort to promote cricket within the refugee community. Upon completion, cricket starter packs generously donated by Lordโs Taverners and the NCF were distributed to facilitate further training and matches. Dr. Macfarlane Ejah, Chairman of the Cross River Cricket Association, expressed commitment to expanding grassroots cricket development in the region, building upon the success of the training program.
Looking ahead, the NCF plans to leverage cricket as a tool for psychosocial support and skill development among the refugee population. Drawing from previous initiatives supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Uhogua Camp, the NCF aims to empower refugees with soft skills such as computing and coding while fostering tolerance and integration within the Ogoja community.
Meanwhile, the CSED Initiative is exploring opportunities to introduce additional sports such as netball, table tennis, pickleball, and taekwondo to the refugee camps. Efforts are underway to construct a multi-purpose playing court at Ukende Camp, with plans to implement the “Sporting Coders” program, contingent upon addressing logistical challenges such as electricity provision and computer procurement. Ako Allan and his team, in collaboration with the CSED Initiative, are poised to extend the success of the “Sporting Coders” program, following its successful pilot in Bayelsa State.
As discussions progress, the NCF and CSED Initiative aim to synergize their efforts, ensuring that grassroots players have access to comprehensive training programs that empower and enrich their lives, transcending boundaries and fostering unity within the refugee community.