A United Kingdom-based Nigerian fan of Manchester United of England, Mr Sunday Ogunbote was this week in Surulere, Lagos to support his daughter’s female gender development venture.
Although the soft-spoken Man U fan pointed out that he did not travel to Lagos purposefully for the two-day programme that took place at The Stable Sports Complex on Bode Thomas Road, Surulere, he made use of his presence in town for a personal matter.
While revealing that he is not related to popular domestic football coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, the proud father further told Sports247 that he was highly excited seeing a very large number of female students, instructors, officials, journalists and guests present at the two-day programme, which was tagged Goals For Girls Leadership Summit.
He also showered encomiums on his daughter, Damilola Ogunbote, for the zeal and commitment she puts into the project, which he revealed has created a similar impact in India, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cameroon, USA and other countries; with great expectations of going farther in years to come.
“It’s been a wonderful experience being here with my wife and friends to support my daughter in this programme,” the amiable ‘father of the day’ disclosed.
“It’s a very good programme, which she is using to empower girls from various secondary schools in the communities around Surulere; and she has previously done it in some other countries.
“The main focus is to teach girls to have a say in any community where they live. It helps them to develop a lot of self-confidence in themselves and learn how to become responsible leaders of the future.
“I’ve followed what my daughter has been doing over the years with her project. She has touched many countries, and the message she is always spreading is that it’s about time that people of the female gender are given leadership roles in all societies of the world.”
Ogunbote was on hand to present trophies, medals and certificates to the best performing schools on Day 2 of the venture, which had a total of 300 students in attendance – 30 for each day from five different schools.
The students were taken through classroom activities in leadership skills, practical drills in football techniques on the pitch and four matches for each school in a mini-competition of 10-minute games that climaxed activities on both days.
Community Secondary School won the first competition on Tuesday, with Iponri Estate High School finishing second; while Clegg Girls Junior High School emerged top of the log on Wednesday, followed by Itolo Girls Junior Secondary School.
