Nigeria stands at a defining crossroads where leadership must move beyond explanations and embrace bold, results-driven action. Mr President, the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria may not be a problem created by your administration, but it is one that history will hold you accountable for resolving. You are in charge now, and Nigerians deserve answers as to why a country with enormous human capital, creative energy and natural advantage has not deliberately unlocked sectors capable of creating up to twenty million jobs within twenty-four months if given the right opportunity, political will and governance structure. The proposal exists, and at its heart is good governance as the central pillar.
The recent loss of the Super Eagles in Morocco once again brought a deeper national issue to the surface, one that goes far beyond football results. Nigeria is losing billions of naira annually from sports development, sports tourism and entertainment because of a lackadaisical approach to sports administration. This failure may stem from lack of focus, limited experience or, in some cases, a complete absence of the technical knowledge required to manage even the most basic responsibilities in modern sports development. The consequences are severe, measurable and damaging to our economy and global image.
Morocco’s success did not happen by accident. The number of FIFA-graded stadia on display there tells a story of deliberate planning, professionalism and respect for sports as an economic asset. In contrast, Nigeria can barely boast of one functional international-standard stadium, Uyo, and even that falls short of world-class excellence. The National Stadium in Lagos has become an eyesore, as is the case with the Abuja National Stadium and many others scattered across the country. These facilities, once symbols of national pride, now reflect neglect, waste and administrative failure.
State governments and corporate organisations share part of the blame, but government remains the principal culprit because there is little appetite for innovation or for doing things the right way. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy Germany and the United States, sports engage millions of citizens meaningfully because those systems operate with seriousness, professionalism and near zero tolerance for corruption in sports administration. Sports in those nations are not treated as charity or politics; they are managed as industries.
It is easy to find faults, but leadership demands solutions. One practical and achievable solution is the adoption of stadia by wealthy individuals, corporate organisations and progressive groups according to their capacity. Nigeria has seen this model succeed. The National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, was revived, renovated and rebranded by a consortium of banks, restoring a critical segment of our national cultural life and creating jobs in the process. That initiative stands as proof that public-private collaboration works when properly structured and transparently managed.
Imagine the economic impact if similar thinking were applied to sports infrastructure. Recently, a prominent Nigerian industrialist, Rabiu of the BUA Group, reportedly promised a cash gift of five hundred thousand dollars to a handful of Nigerian players who represented the country at AFCON 2025 despite not reaching the final. While such generosity is commendable, one cannot help but imagine how many jobs would have been created if that same amount were honestly and strategically deployed to renovate the National Stadium in Surulere or build a new modern stadium in a strategic location. Construction alone would generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while post-completion operations would sustain employment for decades. It is not the responsibility of philanthropists to think this way; it is the duty of sports administrators to solicit, structure and channel such support toward nation-building projects.
Nigeria is blessed with many men and women of means who are willing to give back to the country, but sports administrators often lack the vision, competence and courage required to use sports as a tool to uplift humanity in all ramifications. The simple innovation of adopting stadia as structured national projects can unlock enormous employment opportunities, stimulate local economies, revive sports tourism and restore national pride.
Beyond stadium adoption, Nigeria must also embrace new and emerging sports alongside neglected traditional ones. One such emerging sport is Catchball, which now has a registered federation in Nigeria with a full professional team committed to adding value to the sports fraternity. The initiative is designed to empower the girl child, take young people off the streets, create employment and contribute to the expansion of sports infrastructure nationwide. Unfortunately, sports administrators at government level remain largely disconnected from innovative and progressive approaches to sports development. Appointments are too often based on patronage rather than merit, competence and the ability to think outside the box.
While it is acknowledged that current sports administrators may be doing their best, the truth remains that their best is not good enough to move Nigeria to the promised land of sports-driven economic growth. Adoption of stadia must go hand in hand with deliberate support for grassroots sports development. Organisations such as DAM Foundation, sponsored by Dr Mustapha Abdullahi in Kogi State, demonstrate what is possible by developing basketball at the grassroots level and using sports as a platform for youth engagement and empowerment. However, such efforts should not be left to individuals alone. They must be embedded into national, regional and state policies if Nigeria is serious about large-scale employment creation through sports.
Mr President, sports offer Nigeria one of the fastest and most inclusive pathways to job creation, social cohesion and international relevance. What is required now is leadership that understands sports not as recreation alone, but as an industry. We are available and willing to share a comprehensive and holistic project plan with relevant decision-making departments if given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to this national conversation.
Nigeria cannot afford to continue wasting its potential. The time to adopt a stadium, adopt a sport and adopt a new vision for national development is now.
For further engagement, we can be reached via parrotreporters@gmail.com and babarindebola@gmail.com
By Engr. Bola Babarinde
Chairman, Renewed Hope Global
South Africa Chapter
