Lieutenant Coopwood, CEO of the NDSL and a native of Sacramento, California, said he is delighted to be part of the initiative to introduce and develop drone soccer in Nigeria.
The sport originated in South Korea and was inspired by the idea of flying on brooms and scoring through hoops, much like the fictional game in Harry Potter.
It has since evolved into a competitive sport in which players use remotely controlled drones, enclosed in protective spherical cages, to score by flying through designated hoops.
Drone soccer is gaining popularity worldwide, particularly in the United States, but Coopwood said its real value lies in education and opportunity for young people.
Speaking during his opening remarks at the North-central combine held at StarVille School on Thursday, Coopwood said, “Drone soccer is more than a sport; it is a pathway into science, technology, engineering and mathematics — STEM.”
Coopwood also warned that Africa still has considerable ground to cover in drone adoption and development, and said Nigerian children should not be left behind as other countries continue to innovate.
“We want them to have access to the knowledge, tools and opportunities they need to participate in the global technological revolution,” he added.
He noted growing interest among Nigerians in the United States in bringing the opportunity home and helping it grow, adding that partnerships, institutional support and investment in young people will be key.
The NDSL is calling on schools, government institutions, industry partners, parents and other stakeholders to support the league.
“What begins as a game can become a lifelong passion, a professional skill or even the foundation of a business that develops solutions for Nigeria and the wider world,” Coopwood said.
