As part of activities marking the Week of Nigerian Referees, the Owerri North Referee Society has completed a one-day Digital Media and AI Training aimed at equipping referees with modern communication and storytelling skills.
The free training, which held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the OtownGist Media & Creative Hub, 26 School Road, Owerri, brought together 22 participants drawn from the society for an intensive, hands-on session that blended learning with real-life digital applications.
The program covered topics including personal branding for referees, social media etiquette, storytelling, online reputation management, and practical use of AI tools for communication and match reporting.
Earlier in the week, the society had played a friendly match against the Imo State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), securing a 1–0 victory. The lone goal came from a first-half penalty after their striker was fouled inside the box.
Speaking after the training, Chinedu Hardy Nwadike, founder of OtownGist Media & Creative Hub, said the initiative was part of his team’s drive to promote grassroots digital and AI literacy.
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“Too many organizations focus on high-level learners while the true first-timers are left behind,” Nwadike explained. “What we do at OtownGist is simplify digital learning. As long as you can use a smartphone, you can create. You can tell your story and be part of the digital economy. This training is one more step in that direction.”
He added that his goal is to help professionals across fields — including referees — gain confidence in using technology for communication, documentation, and personal growth.
Also speaking, FIFA Uka Ndubuisi, Chairman of the Owerri North Referee Society, expressed gratitude to OtownGist Media for hosting the training and commended the impact it had on participants.
“We thank OtownGist for this opportunity and for opening our eyes to new tools that can help us do better,” he said. “We hope this partnership continues to a higher level.”
In his remarks, Nwaegbe Uchechukwu, Secretary of the Imo State Referee Council, said the session offered practical knowledge that would immediately improve their work.
“The key point for me and many of us is learning how to prepare our match reports using AI tools,” he noted. “It makes our reports more professional, and we can even apply these tools in our various professions beyond refereeing.”
The event concluded with group presentations, a closing ceremony, and a networking session. Participants described the experience as “eye-opening” and “relevant,” emphasizing that digital literacy has now become an essential part of modern refereeing.
“I’ll tell you more about my father later and my mother? She’s a powerhouse. They would do anything for their children. I love you mom and dad ! This is all I actually ever wanted”, she added.
