Lagos State Government has given reasons why the state has been supporting Nigerian female football international, Asisat Oshoala and her pet project, the Asisat Oshoala Foundation.
Mr. Deji Tinubu, Special Adviser on Sports to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said that the government recognised how the reigning African women footballer of the year developed her career from the grassroots and rose to the stardom, adding that for Oshoala to come out with a foundation to help the girl child in Lagos, it shows that she is a lady of substance who meant well for the society that made her, and her feats in the last couple of years are something worth celebrating.
“His Excellency, Governor Akinwumi Ambode recognises the contribution Asisat has made to football in the country and Africa as a whole. More importantly that she an indigene of Lagos also gives us a joy to want to support her and her pet project Asisat Oshoala Foundation.
“The ongoing Asisat Oshoala/Lagos State Secondary Schools Girls Football Clinic is a good programme we see as a platform to train and show the girls what they can do with football. She was at the Teslim Balogun Stadium when she hosted Lagos secondary schools students to ‘Meet and Greet Asisat event’ on Monday. On Tuesday, she went to Epe Grammar School where she trained the girls and at the end of the day she gave them certificates, jerseys and other gifts. On Wednesday she came to the Teslim Balogun Stadium where another round of training was organised for the girls.
“The programme will be rounded off with the launch of her foundation where the First Lady, wife of the Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Bolanle Ambode will be present.
“We see Asisat as a mentor and role model for a girl child in Lagos. Looking at her humility and the way she rose to the top, if she can be a role model for these girls it would go a long way in shaping their present and the future. Since the clinic began on Monday, she has been mentoring these girls, speaking with them on the need to take their education serious. These we believe would definitely shape their life.
“She has been mentoring the girls and sharing her life experiences and what it took to get to the top. She also spoke on the need to take their education serious, become responsible and disciplined and prepare for the challenges of life, “Tinubu said.