By Amaechi Agbo

The first edition of Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Athletics Championship will hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital on Saturday, November 26, 2022, organisers have announced.

The championship will hold at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja training pitch.

Making the announcement on Tuesday in a media parley, the founder, Chief Executive Officer CEO and Chairman, Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation based in Germany, Mr Richard Agbonifo, said that the one-day athletics competition will hold in the FCT with over 150 athletes expected to participate.

Mr Agbonifo who also spoke on the mission of the championship, disclosed that the Foundation is organising the competition as a channel for providing awareness campaign “against child labour, child hawking/trafficking and the neglect of children by the Nigerian system”

“This competition is an awareness campaign against child labour, child hawking and the neglect of children by the Nigerian system. Children are not labourers and they need guidance and encouragement in sports and education.

“The competition is not only to seek out new talents in the world of track and field but to encourage young kids to go into sports. The competition is aimed at supporting the young athletes and creating continuous training exercise for them,” he said.

On the age category and prizes to be won, Mr Agbonifo stated that the athletes will be below 15 years of age adding that various incentives such as training shoes, jerseys, and more will be giving to the athletes

“The categories are generally between the ages
5 and 15. The plan is to make the competition an annual tournament and as time goes on expand beyond FCT. Then, talented athletes from other states will participate.

“We will be putting our concentration on only track this time around. We are using this to create awareness to the main cause of the foundation which is ‘helping kids to do sports and fighting against hawking, child labour and lack of attention be paid to our children in Nigeria.’

“We are going to give the kids training shoes and jerseys, not just the winners but we will try to compensate all competitors with something, not cash rewards.”

While noting that the first edition is solely sponsored by the foundation, he stated that the organisers are open for partnership with corporate organisations, governments and individuals in the quest to create a better future for the Nigerian child.

“Right now Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Foundation is the sole sponsor of this tournament. Hopefully in the future, we can get more to join the cause

“We also use this opportunity to call on all Nigerians in governments and in diaspora; parents and family, friends and colleagues to join hand in this programme. We expect so much respect and discipline from our children and we forget that the best way to teach that is to lead by example and also let them know that they are respected and worth more than they know. The best resources any country has are not the things in the ground or natural resources, but its people and if we don’t educate them, someone else will,” he concluded.

Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Sports Foundation promotes and supports youth and children from Nigeria and other developing countries in the areas of sports and education. The foundation was founded by Richard Agbonifo, a German professional handball player from Nigeria in March 2022.

The Foundation also supports the financially disadvantaged children and youths through education-related scholarships, thus giving them a perspective for the future. Here, even small amounts can and always makes a big difference.

Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Foundation is registered under the German and Nigerian laws