How School Sports Can Produce Nigeria’s Next World Stars

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 For every Victor Osimhen we celebrate today, there were many others in his generation who were just as talented, some even better, but they never got the opportunity. That is exactly why school sports matter.

When a large percentage of young people participate in sports, national health improves, discipline increases and exceptional talent becomes easier to spot. But in Nigeria, countless gifted athletes slip through the cracks because the system is broken.

Bring back school sports. Build and maintain real sports facilities in schools and communities. Train and employ qualified PE teachers and coaches. You will create jobs, strengthen communities and uncover more world class talents.

Remove corruption and Nigeria can win multiple Olympic gold medals within the next 16 years and maybe even assemble a team capable of truly competing for the World Cup.

A Simple, Practical School Sports Calendar for Nigeria

 1. Sept to Oct: Local Government Championships (schools only)

 2. Nov to Dec: State Championships

 3. Jan to Feb: Zonal Championships (six geopolitical zones)

 4. March: National Championships

If we run this consistently, train identified talents properly, camp them, coach them, nurture them and guide them, then that 14-year-old who is the best in his or her age group today, in a country as populated as Nigeria, could become one of the best in the world within a few years.

But here is the real question:

Is this practical in a country like Nigeria? Can it work? And what is the justification for spending money on a system like this?

Because if we do not answer that honestly, we will keep losing generations of talent and keep wondering why other nations rise while we remain stuck.

Dr. Victor Ademola

Ph.D., Sports & Exercise Physiology

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