The 49th National Conference of Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance which took place at Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria Nsukka between 13th to 17th September, 2021 and with the theme “Athletes in my care:Carear Planning and Post Retirement, has come to an end in a grand style.
Some of the notable participants having discovered the essence of the Police Campaign Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) and its wide range of activity base on the use of sports, recreation and entertainment, identified with the laudable initiative of the Nigeria Police Force that is working with different stakeholders and using many instrumentality for the resolution of issues relating to cultism, substance and drug abuse, violent behaviour and other vices in the society.
While engaging them on 16/9/2021, the National Coordinator POCACOV CSP Ebere Amaraizu reminded them that POCACOV is a community oriented policing program and public relations tool using the instrumentality of advocacy, awareness creation, sensitization, mentoring and reorientation of young minds for self discovery and strategic leadership direction and for a safe, peaceful and secured community.
POCACOV is also using the instrumentality of sports, recreation, dance and entertainment which is under its activity base program through which young minds are constantly engaged with.
The event witnessed the unveiling of three notable personalities who identified with the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force through POCACOV initiatives.
First is professsor Olawole Moronkola who also is the Director General of National Institute for Sports (NIS) Lagos who applauded the Nigeria Police Force on the initiative which he described as world class.
He further described POCACOV as a good initiative from the Nigeria Police Force to contribute to solving many of the restive anti social behaviour especially among young people and urged all to support the laudable initiative.
Professor Amina Kaidal of the University of Maiduguri Bornu state in her response maintained that the initiative is a good one from the Nigeria Police Force.
According to her, the desire of Nigeria Police Force on POCACOV is not to fight crime but to reprint the youth on the path to good behaviour and pointing out that the future of the country lies with the youth.
She further maintain that as a teacher, that the youth are her greatest concern.
While lending her voice, Dr Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko an ex handball player and president, Association of former Female Athletes of Nigeria as well as National Coach, Handball maintained that the Skills and experience will go a long way in providing privileges to our youths in their quest for self discovery thus saving them from against indoctrination to anti social behaviour.
She further stated that the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance is a crucial platform with the capacity to help the Nigeria Police Force through POCACOV in the dissemination of truth instead of lies, deception, propaganda from those who seek to lead our innocent children to the path of self destructive behaviour.
It was gathered that Dr Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko once worked with the federal ministry of Youth and Sports Development as Deputy Director and Head Institutional Sports, Deputy Director and Head Coaching Division amonsgt others.