Nigeria: The future is now for Nigeria's Howzat Foundation for Cricket
Cricket was reportedly dying in Nigeria in the early 1990s until a group of enthusiasts, keen to see the game develop at the grassroots level came together and decided to do something about it - and the Howzat Foundation was born
Olisa Egwatu
09-Sep-2001
Cricket was reportedly dying in Nigeria in the early 1990s until a group of
enthusiasts, keen to see the game develop at the grassroots level came together and decided to do something about it - and the Howzat Foundation was born.
The Foundation and its members have since become an inrtegral part of the game in a nation widely regarded as the sleeping giant of African cricket.
After starting out as a private organisation responsible for numerous
initiatives aimed at promoting the game's growth, its members are now in the
main stream of cricket establishment occupying key roles in the Nigeria Cricket Association.
Please click on the links for further info on the Howzat Foundation.
The Howzat Foundation For Cricket is a private, non-profit sports organisation, committed to the development and promotion of cricket in Nigeria, especially at the grass roots level.
The Foundation came into existence in 1991 at a time that cricket, almost dead in the country, needed a boost.
The Nigeria Cricket Association, the official government body charged with the administration of cricket in the country, is fully aware of our existence. Together, on a number of occasions, we have collaborated to expand the frontiers of the game, not only domestically but internationally.
Because the Foundation recognises the unique features of cricket as a moulder of character, effort is not spared to include in our programmes workshop and seminars on topical issues like AIDS, reproductive and adolescent health, career counselling and cultism. These programmes, especially the annual holiday cricket coaching clinic in August, bring together many students from Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions.
As a private non-profit organisation, we rely entirely on friends of cricket, individuals, international and corporate bodies for material and financial support to run our numerous programmes. It was in recognition of our objectives that in the past the British, Australian and South African High Commissions gave financial and material support to our programmes.
The International Cricket Council, through its African Development Manager,
Hoosain Ayob, has donated bat shapes and rubber balls for our programmes in
1999.
As part of efforts to contribute to the development and promotion of cricket in Nigeria, the Foundation, in September 2000, took a team of youngsters on a playing and educational tour of England. This year (2001), we are planning, in conjunction with Hoosain Ayob and Ahmed Cassum an under 19 tour.
To develop and promote the game of cricket in Nigeria to international
standard by:-
(a) encouraging the playing of cricket amongst youths
(b) collaborating with cricket authorities in Nigeria to improve the standard
(c) working with individuals and corporate bodies to nurture and support the game of cricket
(d) empowering the members of the Foundation and cricketers in general to demonstrate excellence in life through cricket
(b) collaborating with cricket authorities in Nigeria to improve the standard
(c) working with individuals and corporate bodies to nurture and support the game of cricket
(d) empowering the members of the Foundation and cricketers in general to demonstrate excellence in life through cricket
Goals
Board of Trustees
1. Chairman - Professor Osato Giwa Osagie
2. Vice Chairman - Dr John Abebe
3. Chief Executive - Dr. Micheal Ayivor
4. Secretary - Mr. Olisa Egwuatu
5. Member - Mr. Busuyi Onabolu
6. Member - Chief Chris Okunowo
7. Member - Mr. Kola Ojutalayo
8. Member - Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour
1. Chairman - Professor Osato Giwa Osagie
2. Vice Chairman - Dr John Abebe
3. Chief Executive - Dr. Micheal Ayivor
4. Secretary - Mr. Olisa Egwuatu
5. Member - Mr. Busuyi Onabolu
6. Member - Chief Chris Okunowo
7. Member - Mr. Kola Ojutalayo
8. Member - Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour
Membership is spread through seven states of Nigeria and we have some sponsors from corporate bodies and a few individuals. Office staff and cricket coaches are employed, and foremost among those youth coaches are Endurance Ofem and Onome Oghenekevwe.
The Nigeria Cricket Association new executive board:
Three trustees and four other partners of the Foundation are now members of the NCA, the governing body that regulates cricket in the country. They include the following: Chairman - Dr. John Abebe; Members - Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Mr. Olisa Egwuatu, Mr. Chima Anosike, Alhaji Umar Abiba-Gana, Mr. Yusuf N'jie, Mr. Pat Opara
Three trustees and four other partners of the Foundation are now members of the NCA, the governing body that regulates cricket in the country. They include the following: Chairman - Dr. John Abebe; Members - Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Mr. Olisa Egwuatu, Mr. Chima Anosike, Alhaji Umar Abiba-Gana, Mr. Yusuf N'jie, Mr. Pat Opara
This has been the main thrust of efforts for the past 10 years, and so far
it has been a monumental success. We are the only organisation in Nigeria to
be involved in developmental work at the grass roots level. Evidence of this
is:
The entire Nigerian contingent of under 19 players to the
mini-Quadrangular in Ghana (November/December 2000) and the ICC's
African/Associate championship in Kampala, Uganda in January, 2001 were all
products of the Howzat Cricket Academy
·Coaching clinics held throughout Nigeria by coaches brought from
England
In September, 2000 organised and funded an under 19 team's tour of
England.
The Foundation formed and funds two clubs in the Lagos senior club
league - Howzat Pioneers and Howzat Dolphins.
Howzat has been in touch with cricket enthusiasts in Benin and Togo.
Our chief executive, Dr. Michael Ayivor, travelled to Cotonou and hard a
meeting with the Benin representative, Mr. Raju Gurbani. Soon the Foundation
will visit/host a side and from Benin and possibly Togo. We have tried to
open up contact with Mr. Eusa Enow, the cricket development manager in
Cameroon. We have also contacted Dr. Belarmino Lucas in Cape Verde though we
are yet to hear from him. We are aware of cricket happenings in Burkina
Faso.
Two of our products, Tayo Okusany and Dapo Adegoke, discovered in 1993,
played for the country at the African Cricket Association Cup in Kenya in
September, 2000. Adegoke was selected as a member of the West African team
to the ICC Trophy in Toronto, Canada.
Dolapo Gaffar, Nigerian wicket-keeper at the 13th WACC quadrangular
cricket championship in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was discovered during
competitions in 1993.
ICC Development Programmes in Nigeria - The Howzat Foundation has
always collaborated with the Nigeria Cricket Association to organise
coaching and administrative courses conducted by Hoosain Ayob, the ICC
Development Officer for Africa, mobilising participants and providing
technical and logistical support.
Publications
Equipment