Peter Ferguson

Peter Ferguson Biography

Member of the Board

Co-founder member of Growing Seeds Trust Foundation established 27 July 2021, which was reconstituted from Addax RFC for underprivileged children and youths which commenced in 2007.

Peter Ferguson played for Henley RFC in the 1960’s.  When a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) in the early 1970’s, Peter played rugby football in the Northern states of Nigeria, playing with the Emir of Kano’s son who was a talented athlete, schooled in England.

Returning to Lagos as a consultant some 30 years later, it was apparent to Peter, that there were limited opportunities offered to underprivileged children in Lagos and the troubled region of the Niger Delta.

What better way than to address this problem by introducing children to the game of rugby football and experiencing fun. Motivating children as team players and through the life skills programme allow children to develop their characters and flourish in life as they grow in confidence

Children are taught to respect each other and learn to take responsibility and be accountable in their lives.  With fortitude, determination and encouragement they rise up above the disadvantages of unemployment and impoverishment, narcotics, weapons, violence, AIDs and corruption.

Rugby is familiar to the wealthy expatriate Nigerians who have been schooled in Britain.  However, the universality of the game of rugby is certainly not just for the privileged few. The great exciting teams of the world include the All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies, British Lions, Four Nations, Les Bleus, Pumas and other budding international sides with spectacular Sevens tournaments, played around the world by teams like the Fijis or Kenyans.

Rugby is extremely popular amongst our young Nigerians. Since our inception, some of our members have gone on to represent their country at senior level.

We promote skill sets through our inspired coaches in promoting active participation in training drills.

In 2006, the idea of a rugby club for disadvantaged children was established, when Peter made contact with Emeka Ukome through the headmaster, Mr Ken Baines, of the British International School (BIS) in Victoria Island, Lagos.  Through the wonderful cooperation of his company, Addax RFC was formed.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Addax supplied busses to ferry children and young people from their homes and surrounding settlements every Sunday afternoon to the field at BIS. Numbers attending were in the order of 150, including boys, girls and seniors.  This required a cadre of dedicated male and female coaches.  Our philosophy of “train the trainer” was established.  Welshman Roger Coombs from the England under 23 squad and coach for London Nigerians along with other coaches from England visited at various times to provide help and advice.

A team of under 13s was sponsored by Addax and flew to the UK as guests through the kind invitation of the headmaster, Tom Bunbury, pupils and parents of Papplewick School. This was arranged through Andy Berry from Touraid.  Our boys were then able to participate in the Rosslyn Park Schools 7s.

Most recently, it was decided to transform our charity which was renamed as “The Growing Seed Trust Foundation” (GSTF) rugby charity, which was registered in the UK on 27th July 2021.

Due to the restrictive nature of covid and food security problems being experienced in Nigeria, GSTF had the golden opportunity to diversify into organic farming with the opportunity of becoming a sustainable organization. We therefore aim to teach the younger generation scientific and best practice methods in reducing our carbon footprint and impact on climate change. This also means we take responsibility in protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of our environment. 

​

Professional Career

Peter trained as a Chartered and degreed Surveyor, engineer, auditor and consultant. 

Peter has been engaged in project and risk management in the petrochemical, energy and environmental industries in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.  Peter is a currently advising the project management of an Envirobarge importing wind energy electricity for nitrogen storage and electrical re-export to the grid.

Peter is also a lay preacher and engaged in ministry work. Peter holds an honours theology degree at Westminster College Oxford.