AfriSportPro Youth League and the Nigeria Police Force are collaborating to organise a novelty football match on November 21, 2026, as part of efforts to raise awareness ahead of the maiden National Convention of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV).
The match is expected to bring together young footballers and police personnel to promote awareness of the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices, while encouraging positive youth engagement through sports.
The event will precede the POCACOV National Convention scheduled for November 25, 2026, with the theme, “Strengthening Preventive Policing through Community Partnership, Youth Empowerment and Collective Action for National Security.”
Speaking on the initiative, POCACOV National Coordinator, SP Orvenonne Ikwen, said the convention was designed to draw national attention to the organisation’s preventive campaign against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.
He said: “With the mandate of creating awareness and preventive messaging against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices through advocacy, sensitisation, mentorship and community participation, POCACOV is launching its 1st National Convention to give national attention to its mission.”
The partnership with AfriSportPro is expected to expand the campaign’s reach among young people by utilising the organisation’s established sports network, which connects football clubs, players, coaches, communities and fans across the country.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AfriSportPro, Chukwuebuka Ugwu, said the collaboration aligned with the organisation’s commitment to using sports as a platform for youth education, empowerment and positive social engagement.
He described the partnership as particularly significant, noting that football provides an effective avenue for reaching young people with messages against criminal activities and other social vices.
He said: “For me, this is one of our most important partnerships because it aligns with our vision for youth engagement, creating opportunities and educating the Nigerian youth especially against cultism and other forms of crime.
“When I learnt about POCACOV, I knew I wanted to be part of it. This is why we’re partnering and doing this Novelty match to help create awareness about POCACOV and its messaging and promote the upcoming National Convention.
“I believe for a society to rid itself of crime, it must first focus on educating its citizens, especially the youths. Enforcement should serve as a complement. This is why the POCACOV mandate resonates with me, and there’s no better way to get the attention of the youth than through an environment they already engage which is football.
“This Novelty match serves as a statement of purpose and an opportunity to bring the POCACOV messages closer to thousands of young players, coaches and fans within our community. It’s my honor to be collaborating with the Nigerian Police on this very noble cause.”
The November 21 encounter is expected to serve as an advocacy platform for communicating POCACOV’s objectives to young people and other stakeholders in the football community ahead of the national convention.
