By Aduku Aruwa
Over 100 boys and girls between the age of eight and eighteen participated in the third edition of the Michael Sumaila Audu Basketball and Educational Excellence Foundation (MSA BEE Foundation), clinic that ended at the weekend in Lokoja.
An initiative of the United Kingdom based basketballer, Michael Sumaila Audu, the 3-day clinic was designed to renew awareness of the game among children in the state.
The morning and evening sessions feature basic rudiments of basketball including shooting, passing, dribbles and defense amongst others.
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The over 100 children and youths were equally divided into teams for adequate and efficient training.
While the Founder, Michael, supervised the various segments of the training, the league of coaches, led the core training sections.
Speaking at the end of the camp, Michael Audu, said the foundation was poised to attract sponsors that would help it meet it’s set goals and vision of bringing out the best and unique mental and physical attributes out of the trainees in addition to helping them harness their raw talents.
He equally appreciated the volunteer coaches for their commitment and zeal towards the success of the project.
The founder also used the forum to announce plans to extend the camping period from three days to a week to enable the foundation introduce efficient training for the youths.
He went on to encourage Nigerian parents and the general public to embrace regular aerobic exercises to enable them combat rising health challenges.
According to him, an aerobics session would be introduced during the next clinic for parents adding that the gesture would go a long way in helping families integrate physical activities into their daily routines to foster healthier and more energetic lifestyles.
In addition, he said tournaments would be introduced to boost the competitive spirit of the trainees; just as a religious segment would be unveiled to promote morals and uprightness in the youths .
He further explained that the segment would help encourage them to become model citizens and stay in school. This is in addition to promoting a positive recreational outlet that provides a platform which is designed to encourage the trainees take charge of their future and become positive contributing members of society.
Some of the highlights of the event was the presentation of certificates to the trainees as well as kits to the various teams and individuals who distinguished themselves during the 3-day clinic.
