The Chairman of Esthington Group of Companies, Engr. Darlington Ugota, has reaffirmed his commitment to youth empowerment through sports development and business mentorship, declaring that such interventions are crucial to complementing government efforts in job creation and talent development.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abakaliki, Ugota, whose conglomerate includes Esthington Football and Basketball Clubs, said his passion stems from a desire to uplift talented young people who lack the financial support to pursue their dreams.
“We felt that when we are able to support in any little way, that will also be a good encouragement for the people. The government cannot do everything. Everybody must not be employed or be a businessman. When we provide opportunities for people who have talents and help harness those talents, it will go a long way in engaging them meaningfully and developing our state," he said.
He explained that the major drive behind his initiative is to empower the youth so they can eventually give back to society, thereby accelerating the state's overall growth and complementing the efforts of the state governor.
While acknowledging that not all youths are inclined toward sports, the business mogul said his group is also active in real estate and entrepreneurship training, employing over 700 staff across seven real estate subsidiaries and 12 branches nationwide, including locations in Abuja and El Salvador.
“We have people in the business world who we mentor and teach how to do business. We also have a podcast where we educate people about entrepreneurship.
"Those who cannot do business but have talents in football or basketball can join the academies. And registration costs have been fully covered by the company to remove financial barriers," he said.
According to him, Esthington FC and Basketball Club are focused particularly on discovering and supporting young athletes who lack the means to develop their potential. “The football and basketball clubs are for those who have talents but no money to pursue them. We want to remove that excuse,” he said.
Ugota also revealed plans to expand his real estate ventures to Ebonyi State before the end of 2025, stating that groundwork was already underway.
Speaking on an upcoming sports event, he expressed optimism that the initiative would bring smiles to the faces of many youths and residents of the state. “Tomorrow is going to be an interesting moment. His Excellency, the governor, has assured us of his presence. We’ll also have demonstrations from those in training to showcase what they’ve learned,” he said.
On the motivation behind his work, Ugota recounted the story of a former schoolmate who was a promising footballer but could not pursue his passion due to lack of support. “He’s successful now, but I believe he could have gone further with the right platform. We want to inspire others to create similar platforms so together we can build a sports hub in Ebonyi," he said.
He urged other well-meaning individuals and groups to invest in youth development initiatives, stressing that such collective efforts are key to building a prosperous future for the state.
