By Jonathan Lois, Abuja
Ardent Star Foundation has at the weekend kick started a two-day Osomto Ogukwe Basketball Youth clinic for over 50 kids in Karu, Abuja, as part of the activities to give back to the community.
The theme of the exercise was: “Hopes Through Hoops” and it is aimed at encouraging street kids to become useful to their society.
Speaking at the event, the founder of the Ardent Star Foundation, Somto Ogukwe said that he started his basketball career in the community before favour came to his side to travel overseas for his basketball dream.
“I’m back here to give back to the community and create a platform where others will be encouraged and be motivated to do the same thing.
“I have over 50 kids here that we are using in the foundation for them to improve on their skills, talents and hopefully, one day they will stand here as well.
“We are sponsoring first-ever Osomto Ogukwe Basketball Youth Clinic. What inspired me for this is: first to give back to the community and also to give back the same thing that was given to me that made me go overseas.
“I remember not too long ago, I was right here to where these kids are under this hot sun playing basketball, and all we were thinking then was about ourselves; how we could improve ourselves and of which God heard our prayers. So we came back here to motivate these kids the same way,” Ogukwe said.
He, however, disclosed that the Hiltop Academy is their number one sponsor, adding that hopefully “this will be a yearly event which we’re hoping to expand the message from Karu, Abuja to all the 36 states of the federation.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
