The workshop falls within the implementation of the MoU signed with the African Union, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), disclosed Solomon Mudege, FIFA’s Head of Development Programs for Africa.

The MoU, revealed PAULESI’s Director Prof. Titilayo Akinlabi, dwells on human capital development in the field of sports on the African continent.

“And because PAULESI has the M.Sc. Sport programme in Sports management and policy development, we worked in collaboration with FIFA to host the workshop”, she added.

The workshop therefore aimed at building up students’ capacity on sports administration and giving them the opportunity to interact with experts working for football development on the continent.

Prof. Akinlabi further confided her enthusiasm for this big event. “This is the beginning of our relationship with FIFA. We hope it to be better, better and better”.

Due to the massive registration of participants, the workshop took place in a hybrid format to give a chance to each student to attend it.

In all, the organizers recorded an impressive daily turnout amounting to more than a hundred, with about 50 virtually and 70 physically. “PAULESI students were super excited to be able to attend such a workshop. They now know so much about FIFA activities, how they can get into FIFA. I’m so happy that we managed to pull through and to make this happen”, she explained.

Mudege also rejoiced at the turnout, with students from different parts of the world. “We felt that the impact of what we are doing will be speaking to the African continent, as we are playing our part in training future sports administrators in Africa”, he said.

Hopefully, the MoU will pave the way for sound collaboration in sports development on the continent, and most especially, for internships and scientific research for PAULESI.

“FIFA has promised to take two students from PAULESI every year for internship in Zurich », revealed Prof. Akinlabi.

During the workshop, trainees were drilled by FIFA and CAF facilitators on sports psychology, sociology, sports culture and anti-corruption.

Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi,

PAU Communication Officer