Nigerian ex-international footballers, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and his elder brother, Emmanuel Okocha last month launched the ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at using football to raise awareness on the strategic importance of Education, Peace and Unity for the economic growth of Nigeria.
In a bid to further achieve the objective of the foundation, a two-day summer camp was organised in partnership with ‘I Am The Future Nigeria’ a non-profit organisation known for their “Book A Shelf Campaign” which is aimed at ensuring schools, communities, public libraries, less priviledged students etc have access to as many books as possible.
The initiative which is a brainchild of Reene and Zara Okocha provided books as well as other educational kits for participants of the summer camp
The summer camp which was organised for young and the less privileged football players took place at the Internally Displaced People (IDP)’s Camp at Kuchigoro, Abuja.
Campers received tactical soccer training, self-development training and educational training during their stay at the camp. The Jay-Jay Okocha Foundation alongside their partners also donated materials such as food items, educational kits and sports kits to the IDP Camp.
The event was rounded off with ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha celebrating his 43rd birthday with children at the IDP camp. The former Nigerian Skipper on his birthday engaged in a soccer game with some of the children in the camp.
This summer camp, however marks the beginning of the foundation’s numerous projects aimed at creating awareness for peace and unity, as well a platform for
under-privileged but talented soccer players to have access to a better life using football as tool to achieve this objective.