
The Kano State Football Association voted the Shield City Football Academy the award for its work helping athletes build small businesses in such a short amount of time (the team has been together just one year). On June 22, director Laura Sharpe attended a major banquet in downtown Kano, where she and some of the soccer athletes were presented with the Best Philanthropist of 2024 award. The president himself of the national Nigerian Football Federation traveled to the ceremony. Local media were in attendance (see news coverage here!). Sharpe was asked to give a speech at the well-attended ceremony.
“Truly, one of my greatest desires as an active participant in the football world here is to help them understand that involving youth in football and really investing in these young people can make such a difference in their lives. We are the leaders who have the option and ability to impact the lives of these youth,” said Sharpe.
The organizers said they have been so impressed by all that Shield City Football Academy has been able to do with the team of 27 athletes in such a short amount of time. Shield City Football Academy gives out grants to start their own small businesses to support their families.
The past year of these small businesses has seen explosive results for the athletes. Examples of businesses include a small fast food hutch, a booth to sell snacks and football wear, a taxi service, a cell phone credit service, and a cloth tailor business. Life for our athletes’ families is very difficult here in Sub-Saharan Africa, and most of our athletes support their mothers and siblings with their new income.
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