The Programme Manager, Basketball For Peace (BB4P), Coach Oliver B. Johnson (OBJ) has said that he is optimistic that more peace can be achieved through engaging youth in sporting activities.
He expressed this on Wednesday, when he was presented with the AUTHENTIC NGO Of The Year Award, won by BB4P at one of their Peace Courts in Zaria.
“We are happy that the public is appreciating our efforts in engaging youths positively and curbing restiveness through sports,” he said.
Coach OBJ called on wives of governors to support them in creating peace courts in states where there are none, assuring that it would go a long way in keeping the youth away from vices.
He also appealed to corporate organisations to support their activities.
“Our interventions are paying off in several communities in the country. We establish peace zones with functional basketball courts for youth, and also establish peace clubs in schools where they are taught conflict early warning signals, steps to take and how to maintain peace,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Consulting Editor of Authentic News Daily, informed Coach OBJ and others present that they emerged winners of the award after passing through two voting processes.
“Let me congratulate you for winning this prestigious award back-to-back for 2016 and 2017.
He said the online platform, with its administrative head office in Kaduna, has reporters in several states of the country.
Onjewu Dickson said that the reputable online platform’s annual awards recently announced winners of the 3rd edition of the award for 2017, which was published by several media houses and can be accessed on www.authenticnewsdaily.com
