The Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission,Mr. Yussuf Alli, has disclosed the Commission’s plans to establish a Life Coaching Unit in Edo State.

The Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, made the disclosure at a one day training programme: ‘IOC Athletes 365′,organised by the Nigeria Olympic Committee through its Athletes Commission, led by former Captain of D’ Tigers, Mr Olumide Oyedeji, in Benin City.

The Sports Commission Chairman wholeheartedly welcomed the training program, aimed at stimulating the consciousness of athletes on developing themselves for life after active sports,noting that it is something that Nigerian athletes have taken for granted,while the results have been nothing to cheer about.

According to Alli: “we have seen some of our athletes who were celebrities during their active days,go into oblivion and some unfortunately got to the point of destitution as a result of not planning for life after sports”.

He commended the initiative of the of the Nigeria Athletes Commission,led by Olumide Oyedeji and the programme facilitator, Kady Kanoute,who brought the training program to Benin City, the home of sports.

“I therefore salute the foresight of the Nigeria Olympic Committee Athletes Commission for initiating a training programme that will assist athletes to transit from excellence in their sporting career. I also commend the Nigeria Olympic Committee for embracing the IOC Athletes 360 Career program through it’s athletics Commission.

This will surely go a long way in shaping the lives of our athletes by developing skills that will enhance their usefulness to themselves; their families and the society after retirement from active sports”.

The programme facilitator Kady Kanoute with participants at the media centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin

“I wholeheartedly support this program and the Sports Commission in Edo State will establish a life coaching unit where athletes will be counselled on how to plan and develop skills that will help their transition from a performing athletes to other useful endeavours after retirement”.

The Edo Sports Commission Chairman advised athletes to brace up to the challenges ahead and position themselves for the constant changes in sports and society.

According to the organisers, atleast forty participants drawn from all the Olympic and Non Olympic Sports in Nigeria were expected to participate in the ‘Athletes 365 Career plus program
but over that number turned out with Edo having over fifty percent of the participants.

Former Malian Basketball champion, Kady Kanoute “KK”,who is the IOC facilitator was on ground as program facilitator,as she expressed her passion to impact on young athletes through education.

Athlete365 Career Plus,according to Olumide, is a program that empowers athletes to maximise their education and employment opportunities and assist them stride confidently into a dual or post-sports career.