Players and Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria ahead of their crucial qualifier against Zambia, have shown support for the #1girl1pen campaign launched by Fame Foundation to raise awareness about girl child education in Africa.
Players who voiced their support for the initiative include: Leon Balogun, Mikel Agu, William Troost-Ekong, Odion Jude Ighalo, Prince Aggrey and head coach, Gernot Rohr.
Although the campaign is about the girl child, Aderonke Bello, founder of Fame Foundation said “The advocacy for girl child education is not a girl thing or a gender thing and it shouldn’t be. We have guys and girls who are interested in educating the girl child and since we started the one girl one pen campaign, we’ve had a lot of guys support and join us.”
She added that the reason the Super Eagles of Nigeria were approached to lend their voice to the cause is because of the idea of sports for development. “Sports is a global language and football is the number one sports in Nigeria. Meeting the footballers who are Nigerian ambassadors and getting them to join the campaign to pass our message across is a good idea.”
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However, Ms. Aderonke mentioned that once the Super Falcons are in town on national team duties, they would also be approached and briefed on the campaign to get their support.
On progress report she said “So far, we’ve got (Godfrey) Oboabona to pay for three girls to get scholarships under the #1girl1pen campaign. Ighalo has also promised to sponsor five girls. Although we are gender biased, we are getting both the men and the women involved in this campaign.”
