Super Eagles Legend Mikel Obi Storms Lagos, Set To Empower More Nigerian Youths

• Mikel Obi announced his retirement from football but continues to give back to society
• The former Stoke City midfielder is expected at Wave Beach in Lagos on December 8
• The former Nigerian international footballer has partnered with the Vyootopia Festival

Former Nigerian international Mikel Obi has continued to give back to society, as he will empower some youths at Wave Beach in Lagos on Thursday, December 8.

The former Chelsea of England midfielder, who recently retired from football, has continued to share his talent with the young ones across the African continent.

The 35-year-old has partnered with the Vyootopia Festival of sports, entertainment and culture, in a bid to educate and empower young people, starting with the pilot kicking off on December 8.

Further reports suggest that the event will feature a digital sports conference, a ball juggling challenge, fitness and beach football, ending with an Afroterra musical concert.

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Obi is not new in this space, especially with regard to the work he has been doing through his not-for-profit (Mikel Obi Foundation) and his famous Back2Base Project.

Vyootopia is a multicultural festival that leverages sports and entertainment to curate socially immersive events and impactful conversations, that can accelerate sustainable developmental initiatives for youths and their communities in Africa.

The mission is to utilise better creative means to engage young people for their empowerment.

Through the partnership with Mission89, Vyootopia goes beyond the latter to safeguard youths from human trafficking and Irregular migration in and through sports.

Mission 89 is a research, education and advocacy organisation inspired by the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, FIFA’s Article 19 - intended to protect the commercial movement of footballers under the age of 18, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) principles prohibiting the exploitation of young athletes from unscrupulous recruiters and agents.

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Mission 89 also works to combat human trafficking through prevention initiatives.

Mikel Obi reunites with John Terry

Sports Brief earlier reported on former Nigerian international Obi reuniting with his former captain at Chelsea, John Terry.

The pair were pictured together at a holiday resort as they grinned to the camera - in a selfie taken by the former England international.

While Obi spent 11 years with Premier League club Chelsea, having joined in 2006 before leaving in 2017, Terry spent most years of his career at the London club.