Nearly three years into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, many Nigerians are still awaiting the full realization of the “Renewed Hope” agenda. While the President’s vision for economic recovery is widely acknowledged, significant concerns persist regarding the performance of certain ministers and agency heads. Their shortcomings, which hinder national progress, will be the focus of a detailed series of upcoming publications.
Practical frameworks already exist that could empower Nigerian youth and women to generate up to 20 million jobs within 24 months. Unfortunately, bureaucratic gatekeepers often prevent these innovative proposals from reaching the President. A primary pillar of this untapped potential is sports development, a sector that remains one of Nigeria’s most neglected yet promising engines for economic expansion. Globally, nations like the UK, Spain, the US, and Germany have harnessed sports to create millions of jobs in coaching, facility management, marketing, medicine, and tourism. Nigeria must not be left behind.
The path to transforming this sector begins with the urgent rehabilitation and modernization of sporting facilities. We must encourage private organizations to adopt, manage, or acquire these assets, ensuring they remain accessible to the public while maintaining international standards. A visit to the National Stadium in Surulere today reveals a heartbreaking reality: what was once a symbol of excellence now feels like an abandoned monument. With dilapidated offices and an unkempt environment, the facility reflects a systemic loss of direction.
This decay is compounded by exploitative administrative practices. Sports organizations attempting to use these state-run facilities are often met with exorbitant fees; for instance, requests to use a volleyball court for less than an hour have been met with charges as high as ₦250,000, despite the court being outdated and poorly maintained. To fix this, sports administration must be entrusted to professionals with genuine passion and competence, rather than being treated as a tool for political patronage or a resource for future election funding.
Furthermore, Nigeria must revive the grassroots competitions that once served as the bedrock of talent discovery. Programs such as the Principal’s Cup, NUGA Games, and NIPOGA Games require renewed energy and sustainable funding. Currently, sports like lawn tennis, boxing, and swimming are in a state of near-collapse or total neglect. A coordinated national strategy focusing on these areas could create over five million direct and indirect jobs, ranging from physiotherapists and journalists to equipment manufacturers and event organizers.
The current transactional attitude toward sports administration must shift toward a culture of legacy and accountability. Citizens must demand transparency from institutions like the National Institute for Sports Nigeria, asking for measurable achievements rather than empty rhetoric. Beyond the economic windfall, a robust sports ecosystem fosters national health, youth discipline, and social stability, steering young people away from crime and unrest.
Finally, Nigeria should embrace emerging sports to broaden participation. Disciplines like Catchball offer fresh opportunities for women and youth inclusion. Our nation possesses immense potential, but we lack the structure and sustained commitment to harness it. With the right leadership and strategic planning, sports can be transformed into a powerful engine for national greatness. The time to act is now.
By Engr. Bola Babarinde, South Africa
