The AfriSportPro Youth League, yesterday, expressed its desire to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in deploying football as a tool for youth empowerment and Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy. The Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of the League, Chukwuebuka Ugwu, said in Abuja, yesterday, during a visit to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Bianca Ojukwu, that the league is exploring a strategic partnership that would position football as both a unifying force and a diplomatic instrument for Nigeria.
 
Ugwu outlined the vision of the youth league, stressing that discussions focused on using football as a unifying and diplomatic instrument. He explained that the league is determined to open doors for young Nigerian players to gain international exposure, adding: “We are using youth football as a vehicle for Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy, facilitating international scouting and exchange opportunities, and harnessing sport to empower youth, foster global partnerships, and promote cultural dialogue.
 
“We’re inspired by the minister’s commitment to a Nigeria where homegrown talent can thrive locally and shine globally. This collaboration will open doors to international clubs, scouts, and exposure, while strengthening Nigeria’s presence on the global stage. Together, we are building bridges through football.”
 
Ugwu also explained that the league intends to integrate data-driven systems to improve talent discovery and support the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
 
Beyond scouting and data, Ugwu emphasised the league’s broader social impact, adding that, “We aim to give opportunities to young talents to develop and be scouted by professional clubs locally and internationally, and also by the NFF.
 
“We are working on sharing player performance data with the NFF to improve their selection process through data-driven decisions for youth national teams.”
 
In her remarks, Ojukwu welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and innovative. She said: “This is a good development. We needed an innovative football project like this, which covers nationwide competition. I commend your efforts and the structure you’ve put in place. I’m very happy the league has been launched.” She added that the project comes at a critical time when sports are enjoying renewed attention in the country,” she added.