LAGOS, Nigeria—A new initiative to combat crime and empower young people in Nigeria’s largest city has been launched through a partnership between the UK government and local charities.
The two-month programme uses sport, including boxing and football, to build resilience and provide life skills for vulnerable youth across three Local Government Areas in Lagos: Ajeromi, Ikorodu, and Ifako Ijaiye. The initiative, which will run until November 2025, is a collaboration between UK charity Clean Herts Community (CHC), the British High Commission, and the UK Home Office.
At the launch, British Deputy High Commissioner Simon Field stated that the programme demonstrated how international partnerships could provide young Nigerians with “the tools, skills, and opportunities to thrive.”
Nikita Joshua, the director of CHC, said the initiative was designed to show young people that “hard work, resilience, and sincerity can open up brighter futures,” offering them a clear alternative to a life of crime.
The project is an extension of a successful pop-up event held earlier this year and is part of the UK’s wider Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Prevent Programme. Local coaches will deliver regular community-based training sessions aimed at fostering discipline and creating positive pathways for participants.
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