By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: Ahead of the 35th birthday of the Chief Executive of Connected Development and founder Follow The Money, Hamzat Lawal, a novelty football match was played in his honour on Friday, March 11, 2022.
The match which took place at Astro Turf, Zone 5, Abuja, between Hamzy United and CODE City, lasted for 60 minutes, and ended 8-3 in favour of Hamzy United.
In less than 10 minutes into the game, Hamzy United scored the first goal and two more goals were scored in succession in the 13th minute against CODE City. Swinging into action, CODE City sent the crowd cheering in the 15th minute when they scored their first goal of the match. Although they strived for more goals, Hamzy United came for the win as the match ended 8-3.
Speaking to Journalists at the end of the novelty football match, Hamzat Lawal expressed delight that friends, well wishers and colleagues came together to play a football match in his honour, adding that they played for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to him, “Football has always been a game that unites people. Sometimes, even when there is conflict, or when there is a cause to celebrate, we use football because it doesn’t have religion and ethnicity. Football talks about justice, equity, and peace and for me, these are the values I stand for.
“Today, I am really excited that friends, well wishers and colleagues have come together to play a football match in my honour, but what this also means to me, is that they are playing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).They are playing for what the youth represent—vibrancy, energy and tenacity.
“As I transition into 35 years, this will also springboard into active participation in politics and decision making. This is just the beginning because, as young people we can no longer remain on the sidelines, it is enough right now for us to advocate more. We will organize, mobilize, we will not complain, we will take decisions and consolidate on various efforts”, he said.
He also disclosed that they will launch movements that are political and shape narratives, adding that as 2023 approaches, they will unite Nigerian youths, women and people with disability to vote for equity, justice but most importantly for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking on the new age, he said, “As I turn 35, one example I’m giving is that I’m going to resign from about 10 of the Boards I belong to because as leaders, we must be deliberate on our actions, we must give up spaces so that youths would actually fill up those spaces.
“But when we talk about politics, politics is not served à la carte, young people must take actions and not wait to be given. We have the numbers, we would use those numbers”.
Furthermore, he said, “Today, I have influence, power, credibility and I cannot have those and just sit down. I will use it to mobilize and to educate other young people on the need to see that we would be leaders that would invest in the future of Nigeria, and invest in the next generation of leaders.
“So, while I exit in some of the civic space sitting on various international and local Boards, I will also recommend young people that will take over from me; that I have deliberately invested on in the past 10 years, and I believe this will send a message to the political class to say that ‘it is not about you, but about what we represent collectively, it is about people and about investing in the ideals of nation building in Nigeria and Africa'”, he concluded.
