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ADCI 2009 Nigerian tour

NFL stars Asomugha, okoye, Umenyiora others storm Lagos

The Athletes in the Diaspora: Community Interventions (ADCI) delegation will tour Nigeria between on March 21 - 28, 2009 for the second time as part of its annual trip towards cementing sustainable and positive differences in Nigeria, Africa and globally. In a release signed by Invictus 91 CEO Okey Chidume and the Nigerian Directors of Invictus International, Theodore Omalu, Princewill Utchay and Sam Anani, the tour will create a unique opportunity for these athletes to connect with their roots. This is a logical follow up to the highly successful trip last year. 

It would be recalled that ADCI was in Nigeria last March with four NFL stars to engage in the ADCI community programs which included youth soccer sponsorship. Under the program, ADCI in conjunction with Nike sponsored the kitting of Enugu Rangers with all the proper equipment needed to play soccer.

This year’s trip which ends on March 29 will see ADCI team visiting Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, and Enugu has been expanded to include Oakland Raiders’ Nnamdi Asomugha, New York Giants’ Osi Umenyiora, Cincinnatti Bengals’ Chinedum Ndukwe, Miami Dolphins’ Ike Ndukwe, Chicago Bears’ Tommie Harris and Kasia Muoto – a female soccer star.

 The Youth Sports  sponsorship scheme began last year with soccer has been extended to include tennis as ADCI in conjunction with Nike Inc. will be supporting the Nigeria Tennis Federation’s call for the advancement of tennis among the youth by donating necessary kits and equipment needed to safely play tennis. 

 Furthermore, to address the increasing cases of child’s obesity, ADCI under its physical activity / American football camp will host two physical activity camps where children will be taught the fundamentals and importance of exercise and proper nutrition as well as the fundamentals of playing American style football.

 The Athletes will serve as coaches for the different sectors of the camp which will help to reduce violence and vandalism as it provides a different option for most of these kids that would have otherwise end up on the wrong path. Each camp will consist of a minimum of 100 kids.

 In line with its commitment towards the advancement of education and increased physical activity, ADCI  has proposed to build an academy of learning and sports with the vision to establish sports as an instrument for sustainable youth development with the central theme of ‘Sports for Life’ 

 The concept of the academy is to facilitate academic excellence and scholarship as a means of providing a veritable alternative to most children where they can maximize their learning opportunities in a safe and nurturing environment. Invictus and the team will be joined by the Federal and relevant state Governments and other stakeholders during the unveiling of the model and business plan for the academy.

 The ADCI also intends to Award 10 University Scholarships to worthy students in SS3 on the verge of gaining admissions into Universities and also outstanding first year students through an endowment fund managed in conjunction with the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) as well as lay the groundwork for future Athletic Scholarships for outstanding student athletes.

 International sports analyst, Emeka Enyadike has described the ADCI tour as a major boost for sports development and educational advancement in Nigeria urging youths to emulate these outstanding Nigerians.

 “Some of these athletes are bigger than our soccer stars going by their celebrity, earnings and star power. They have continued to defy the logic that Nigerians don’t play American Football.

 “The stars on these trip are some of the top stars, for instance, Amobi okoye is the youngest ever player drafted into the NFL at the tender age of 19 and he was born in Nigeria, Nnamdi Asomugha is on the highest paid player roll of honour in the NFL history, in fact, his the Oakland Raiders last month re-signed him on a new three year deal which makes him the highest paid defensive end in NFL history. Osi Umenyiora won the Super Bowl last year with the New York Giants, while ,the Ndukwe Brothers Miani Dolphin's guard Ike and Younger brother Chinedum who stars for the Cincinati Bengals as a Safety  have continued to excel.

 “Nigerians are naturally endowed for the sport, with speed, athleticism and our soccer culture gives us balance and flair, but education is the biggest key,” he said.

 Athletes in the Diaspora: Community Interventions is a mission established by Invictus91 as a means of providing professional athletes the opportunity to give back to their local and global communities at large. InVictus91 in conjunction with the professional athletes collaboratively work through this program to help improve the living conditions while providing an opportunity for a better future for the underprivileged. The purpose of ADCI is to minimize inequalities by maximizing opportunities.

 Nigerians has always been associated with football, what the Americans call soccer, our finest hour, winning the Atlanta 96 Olympic Gold medal on American soil heralded our arrival but now the country and a legion of athletes born in Nigeria or born in the United States of America, some in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents are setting new standards in American Football.

 The players of Nigerian extraction have reached new heights with a significant presence in each of the last three Super Bowls – the zenith of the sport. These Athletes have not forgotten their roots. They have resolved to give back to the community. They have volunteered their time and resources to coming back home once a year, giving hope to the youth of Nigeria through education and other community initiatives. They are called the ADCI-Athletes in Diaspora: Community Interventions.