I shall be in the UK this week, God willing, representing The International Sports Academy, Wasimi Orile, at the international Beyond Sport summit that will culminate in the award of honours to deserving sports projects around the world. The more I think of the little we have done at the Academy in Ogun State, a project that has only just started and that lacks almost everything material (except the will to succeed) the more I am humbled by the nomination the school has received as one of 5 such projects in the world in the category of social inclusion. It is a recognition for the impact of the project on its immediate environment – drawing attention to the neglected communities, bringing utilities (electricity and water) to the communities, creating employment opportunities for the people, bringing education and sports to the youths, impacting the lives of the women through soft, interest-free loans offered by the school, generating economic activity in the environment, and so on!

It does not matter whether we win the award or not, as our motivation has never being to win awards but to simply impact the lives of a few Nigerian children with sports and education, and to establish a simple practical model for the rest of the country! I shall return next week with the full story of all that happens there!