In a bold fusion of politics and sports on the sidelines of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda led high-level strategic talks as part of Nigeria’s official delegation.
With the Super Eagles securing third place and reigniting national pride, Yilwatda convened a landmark session in Rabat to craft a blueprint transforming Nigerian football into a driver of youth jobs, national unity, and sustainable development.
This initiative highlights the APC’s deepening commitment to empowering youth through sports.
The session, facilitated by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Silas Ali Agara, according to a press release signed by Abimbola Tooki, special adviser to the APC national chairman on media and communications strategy, brought together a powerful mix of political leadership, global football diplomacy and technical expertise.
Part of the press statement reads: “It was driven by a shared objective: to adapt lessons from Morocco’s widely acclaimed sports development model into a practical Nigerian framework that delivers measurable outcomes.
“At the heart of the discussions was the recognition that Morocco’s football success is the result of long-term planning, coherent policy choices and sustained investment.
“Drawing from this experience, the team agreed on the need for a Nigerian adaptation that goes beyond match results to focus on the full sports economy. This includes job creation through stadium construction and maintenance, facility management, coaching development, sports administration, technology, and other allied sectors capable of absorbing thousands of young Nigerians.
“Professor Yilwatda will provide the political leadership and policy direction required to drive the ambitious vision, while Mr Agara will spearhead the execution, ensuring that the strategy translates into real employment opportunities and skills development for the youths, FIFA Council Member and CAF leader, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, will contribute global insight and access to international technical support, while policy and technology expert Esebamen Clement will lead the design of a data-driven and implementable framework to guide the initiative.
“A key outcome of the Rabat engagement was the emphasis on collaboration with state governments, particularly through the Progressive Governors Forum.
“Under the proposed framework, governors are expected to serve as the primary drivers of sports infrastructure development and grassroots talent cultivation within their respective states, ensuring nationwide impact and sustainability.
“Professor Yilwatda reaffirmed that football, when properly structured and supported, can serve as a powerful instrument for national unity, youth empowerment and economic growth.
“He stressed that the APC remains committed to innovative governance and the adoption of global best practices that place young Nigerians at the centre of development planning.
“The Rabat engagement marked a decisive step away from rhetoric towards a clear package of actions, signaling a new approach to sports development, one that positions football not just as a game, but as a strategic platform for jobs, unity and national renewal.”
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