Kano state has been chosen to host the maiden edition of National Sports Mental Health Dialogue in Nigeria.
The programme, according to Joseph Andishu,
Country Director, FreIvan Services UK, at a press conference in Kano on Tuesday, is a pilot move towards kick starting the process of developing the culture of giving prominence to issues related to sports mental health in Nigeria.
According to Mr Andishu, sports health is a contemporary issue that is given needed attention in the developed world, adding that Nigeria should not be left behind in the area of paying critical attention to the mental wellbeing of its sports actors and back room personnel at all levels.
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According him, Nigeria needs to commence the process of training qualified sports mental health practitioners as a way to further reap the benefits that are associated with what he described a as foremost global wealthy industry.
He explained that the one-day dialogue, scheduled for September 30th in Kano, would feature critical stakeholders drawn from various sports fields from across Nigeria.
He said the outcome of the dialogue will culminate to the charting national roadmap for sports mental health in Nigeria and help to address fundamental issues that are related ailments in the sports sector.
In his words “we have taken the burden to go round and interact with stakeholder s in the sports industry in Nigeria, the outcome has been positive.
“the outcome of the dialogue in Kano, come 30th September will determine the way forward, however, it is imperative to state at this juncture that 20 persons will be selected to proceed for hybrid trainings on sports mental health.
“those who successfully complete the training will be internationally certified to give care as sports mental health first aid givers, this will add huge value to sports development and promotion in Nigeria.
He added that the state of the mental healthiness of Nigeria athletes and the provision of quality mental health services to Nigeria to them, their coaches, fans, referees and sports journalists inclusive is core to the growth of the sports sector.
He said 50 people selected from athletes, coaches, journalists and other stakeholders would participate in the programme, disclosing that 20 of them would be chosen to be trained in order to train others on sports mental health.
He added that the programme is in collaboration with Sports Without Borders Development Association.
