PURPOSE
As the quest to continually harness the values of hard work, cultural homogeneity and intellectual creativity among youths in Ekiti State gathers momentum, it becomes cogent to make crystal clear, the strategies the Ekiti State Football Association has for the youths in the state. These targeted youths who are within the age range of 13-45 years have skills, energy, creativity and the will to succeed in them. It will be wise to create a platform that will effectively harness these traits, extend their limits and reposition them in a context where they can grow productively. Ekiti State Football Association plans to engage these youths through sports, the best platform ever!
Ekiti State, with a population of almost three million people has more than half of the population as youth between 13 and 45years. It is known all over the world that best tool in engaging youths all over the world is through sports. In Nigeria, the king of sports is football. The Ekiti State Football Association shall create events that will engage both male and female Ekiti youths within 13 and 45 years by introducing various competitions and other activities such as seminars and workshops.
The National Bureau of Statistics (2006) identified that the most active population in Ekiti State are between the ages of 10 and 39 years which totaled 1,343,707 and covers 56.01% of the total population. Invariably, Khoema (2018) reported that 20.2% of the Ekiti State residents (479,791) are unemployed or underemployed. This is a clear reflection that if 25% of the active population of Ekiti residents are socially engaged in sports, crimes and social vices will be reduced and job opportunities will be explored.
The Ekiti Football Association has come up with a holistic plan titled “Building Ekiti Football Culture” which shall invariably address four cardinal issues in:
a. Talent Hunt,
b. Empowerment Opportunities <
and Job Creation,
c. Social Networking, and
d. Projecting the Ekiti Brand.
The proposed plan has a short, medium and long term policy framework that will run till 2026.
The plan projects that by 2026, Ekiti State Football Association would have graduated coaches and players at the highest professional level; turning the socioeconomic space of the state on a passive income football driven economy.
GOALS
• To encourage a football culture in Ekiti State.
• To set specific objectives on the following subjects:
– Grassroots football
– Schools football
– Football in communities
– Training coach-educators
– Organizing matches, competitions and festivals
• To prepare a detailed plan for development at both the state and local football council levels
OBJECTIVES
i. Increase participation (10-17 year-olds/boys and girls)
ii. Improve on the organization of statutory competitions in the state
iii. Re-package the state league to attract sponsors
iv. Improve the standard of coaching as well as initiate more coaching seminars and workshops.
v. Organize more tournaments
vi. Improve communication and develop relations with government agencies and corporate organization
vii. Encourage teachers, volunteers and parents to be more involved in football activities
viii. Sign agreements with sports organizations to enhance public private partnership in Ekiti football
TIMELINE AND STRATEGY
A. October/December 2020
i. EKSFA Board meeting
ii. EKSFA General Assembly
iii. Organize the State U-10 (Headmasters Cup, U-13 (Kings’ Cup) and U-16 (Principals Cup) competitions.
B. Jan/February 2021
i. Organize coaches workshop and referees
seminars
ii. Organize the Ekiti State Governors Cup as JKF Youth Cup for U-17 boys and girls
iii. Management and administration of National League matches
iv. Building of the of the Ekiti State U-13 and U-15 teams, the Ekiti Baby Bees and Ekiti Bees respectively
C. March/April 2021
i. EKSFA Board meeting
ii. Management and administration of National League team and matches
iii. Management and administration of Nationwide League teams and matches
iv. Organizing the State FA Cup for both male and female teams using the name of a title sponsor
E. May/September 2021
i. Management and administration of National League matches
ii. Management and administration of Nationwide League matches
iii. Organizing the 2021 edition of the Bet9ja Ekiti State League
iv. Participation of U-13 and U-15 teams in SW Zenith Bank Future Champions
v. Exposing the EKSFA under aged teams; the Ekiti Bees and the Ekiti Baby Bees to professional football through participation in an international tournament.
Constraints
i. Inadequate sports facilities
ii. Relatively weak football culture
iii. Insufficient funding of football activities
iv. Lack of vehicle for effective monitoring of football activities in the state.
Accountability
The Executive Board of the Ekiti State Football Association has approved the appointment of:
1. Mr. Adeolu Oyebode
2. Coach Tade Gboyega
3. Dr. Sina Fakoyede
As members of EKSFA Research, planning and strategic development committee.
The Committee is to be chaired by the Chairman, Mr. Bayo Olanlege, and the secretary is Mr. Idowu B. S. the EKSFA Secretary.
Also, the following statutory committee members were also approved by the Board
A. Technical Committee members are:
i. Ariyo A.Y.O
ii. Kehinde Anjorin
iii. Femi Adesina
iv. Ibrahim Kasali
v. Adameji J.O.
vi. Bolarinwa Idris
B. WELFARE AND MOBILISATION COMMITTEE.
i. Daramola S. O.
ii. Anthony Osegboun
iii. Mr. Remi Solola
iv. Mr. Calot Afolabi
v. Ige Adewale Emmanuel
vi. Funmilayo Alake
C. PROTOCOL & SECURITY COMMITTEE by
i. Mr Fatukasi J.I.
ii. Mr Ajibewa J.A.
iii. Mr Olaifa Tope
iv. Agbeni Atolani F.
v. Azeez Ogunlayi
vi. Seun Omoyajowo
D. Media & Publicity Committee
i. Adegboyega Afolabi
ii. Ayodeji Okunuga
iii. Deji Ogunsakin
iv. Pelumi Abiara
v. Bisi Ogunleye
vi. Qozeem Oladapo
E. Organizing committee
i. Aregbesola Olumuyiwa
ii. Kolawole Owoseni
iii. Adeyemi Oluwatoyin Mrs.
iv. Oluyemi Awopetu
v. Oloruntoba Agbe
vi. Akodu Bukola Mrs.
F. Finance and Budget
i. Prince Oladipo Ebenezer
ii. Chief Tunde Adelugba
iii. Adetunji Adu
G. Schools Sports Committee
i. Gboyega Afolabi
ii. Ibidun Isaac
iii. Qozeem Oladapo
iv. Joseph Ipede
v. Femi Kumuyi
vi. Adunola Ibukunola
vii. Ayodeji Aladesanmi
viii. Ayodeji Oluwaseun