Sports
Ugbade Urges Sportsmen To Embrace Education
The captain of the 1985 U-17 World Cup champions, Nduka Ugbade has advised sportsmen to take seriously their education to distinguish themselves.
Ugbade said in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Saturday that there was a huge difference between sportsmen who had formal education and those who did not.
He said that as a former player and a coach, he had observed that formal education helped players to develop their skills.
“One cannot deny that an educated player in any sport is more likely to interpret instructions quicker and better on the field of play than one not educated,” he said.
The ex-international explained that being formally educated was not just passing through a school but also getting formal training in the sports engaged in.
“Football has its sports science and so also other sports, therefore players who get the prerequisite education will perform beyond their innate talent.
“Education will help to neutralise the inconsistencies in the player on the field of play and enable him to do the unthinkable and unpredictable,” he said.
Meanwhile Chris Eseka, a veteran journalist, has said that the economic situation in the country was responsible for some sportsmen not pursuing their education beyond junior or senior secondary school.
Eseka said that most sportsmen took to sports as an option when they had no hope of going to school.
“Most of the athletes you see are those whose parents were not able to educate them formally and therefore took to sports as an alternative to make ends meet,” he said.
The journalist said that it would do Nigerian sports a lot of good if athletes got formal education either in sports science or in other disciplines.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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