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Opinion

Fans And Foreign Sports Patronage

Published

14 years ago

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The craze by most Nigerians to watch foreign football clubs’ matches played on cable television is becoming a cause of worry to most enthusiast and football administrators. What with the empty stadia across the country, low turnout of spectators and fans at various sports centres, venues for local sports meets and competitions? I bet you, so many Nigerians now know more about foreign sports clubs and their players than their own local clubs and players. This is unfortunate!

A situation where Nigerian youths and adults are very ready to reel out the history, names of players of foreign clubs, like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Inter Milan, PSG, Bolton, Bayern Munich, Anderlecht, Manchester City, Lyon, Olympic Marseille, among others, is nothing but foolhardy. Shamefully enough, most of these youths and adults, cannot mention the names of Nigerian local clubs and players therein. They do not even know the names of the national club sides whether male or female!

Fine, some may argue that Nigerians and Africans also ply their trade in these foreign clubs, and therefore, see nothing wrong in having so much interest in the foreign club sides. They may also argue that the quality, level and standard of play displayed by these foreign club sides is very high and attractive. I agree with these arguments. I also agree that these club sides are that high in their performances because of the huge amount of money invested in them as well as the large patronage they receive in terms of spectators and fans.

Can anyone imagine the huge chunk of money spent and realized by these club sides in terms of sign-on fees, sponsorships, marketing rights, television transmission rights, endorsements, gate takings, and other patronages, as compared to our local club sides, which lack all of these incentives, sponsorships and investments? It is staggering!

True, football administration and management need to be greatly improved and taken a notch higher to raise the bar/standard of football in our various competitions. In fact, the National Professional League, the Challenge Cup, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League, West African Football Unity (WAFU) Cup, and the Africa Nations Cup, have not shown the touch of class that has been achieved by English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian, Argentine and other South American and some Asian football club sides. We all reckon with that!

But that does not mean we must focus all our attention on these foreign football club sides at the detriment of our local clubs. They have developed and become strong because of the huge investment put in them by private business moguls, who strive for profit, and must do everything to get out the best in their players through winnings. They also commit to genuine integrated partnerships that work for the players, the club sides and their owners.

If the interest created and sustained in our domestic leagues would go a long way in increasing patronage, attract good private investments and marketing windows, and also improve the quality, style and level of players and the game of football in Nigeria, then, let us reverse the trend. Since there is a glaring co-relation between spectators/fans population, viewer interest and patronage as well as corporate sponsorships, endorsements, marketing rights, advertisement placements, and value of TV rights, then, we must galvanize our energies towards getting all these factors in place as a veritable means of boosting the game in Nigeria.

Of course, the various stadia and football facilities need to be greatly improved, especially since our football pitches are not well maintained as expected. The ambience and aesthetic beauty of the facilities, which contribute in no small measure in making the game attractive to spectators and fans, must be fixed. Even marketing rights of Nigeria’s Challenge Cup or Professional League matches can be issued to both local and foreign television stations so as to help popularize, and expose our domestic league and football players to the world.

Football has become such an international game of first choice that people from across boundaries, religions, languages and colours, are taking increasing delight in watching football matches of club sides, whether in their countries or not. I think that if Nigerian club sides are exposed to global football space, with improved investments, sponsorships, sign-on fees or endorsements, the quality of the game will be enhanced.

You can imagine the huge monies expended in terms of corporate sponsorships, endorsements, among others, by the telecommunications organisations such as MTN, GLO, Airtel, Etisalat, who promote big club sides like Barcelona FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC, and a host of others at the detriment of our domestic club sides and teams, when they operate in Nigeria. Yes! Granted that virtually all these telecommunications companies are international conglomerates, they also have very strong customer base and revenue margin from Nigeria. In fact, most of them have their highest annual revenues from Nigeria. It is, therefore, unfortunate that they forget that those countries such as England, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, will never encourage companies operating within their own vicinity to sponsor or patronize foreign football club sides at the expense of the local ones.

I think the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ministry of Sports and National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Federal Government must urgently seat up and address this matter. Methinks that legislation needs to be put in place to grant incentives to corporate bodies which sponsor sports activities while punishing those who take delight in encouraging capital flight through the sponsorship of foreign club sides or teams.

In fact, a given percentage of local content is required in their sponsorship template, failure of which government should withdraw their licenses. The football administrators and managers must reach out to all these big-time corporate football supporters and sponsors, and enlist their commitment to invest part of their budget for football advertisements to local league sponsorships. They must also show some level of efficiency and transparency in the administration of the game to attract support of corporate bodies in terms of sponsorships.

Now the issue of competence and expertise is very important here. Football administrators in Nigeria must develop their competences and skills in professional and technical football administration, coaching and management. They must know what is necessary, the tactical approaches at all levels of the game, as well as the politics that determine who gets what and who wins at what point. The crises bedeviling football administration and management in Nigeria should be quickly addressed to save the game from total collapse.

Sports administrators should make conscious and deliberate effort at developing football at the grassroots, particularly schools sports. It is not in doubt that Nigerians, especially youths love football. These abundant talents across the country should be harnessed, and put to useful purposes. I think, what is required is for these talents to be nurtured and shaped through grassroots talent hunts, coaching clinics, and mentoring opportunities. Establishment of secured and quality football pitches or fields, distribution of football kits, including balls should be encouraged, because this helps the youths to develop their football talents. It also builds the interest of the entire population in the game of football. There is no doubt that the existence of football academies in Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany, and Portugal, has helped these nations in their effort to grow the game to the level they are today.

I believe that to stem the tide in the dwindling fortunes of Nigeria nay Africa football, and arrest the lack of spectators/fans’ enthusiasm and interest in our domestic football games, we need to bring in the brains and best hands to manage and administer the round leather game as practiced all over the world. Square pegs must be put in square holes just as round pegs must be put in round holes. Indeed, the right experts with the technical knowhow, managerial skills and right attitude must be made to manage our football at all levels.

It is interesting to note that football is a money spinner and major foreign exchange earner for many countries. As such government and private sector investments would not be in vain if there are put into football activities in Nigeria. Nigerians are great football lovers, and would justify the huge investments through payment for various services aimed at promoting the game.

If football sponsorship increases, and spectators/fans population rise, obviously, revenue will double.

Coincidentally, the game has the capacity to create employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians. It will also promote the unity of the country, and enhance other social and cultural relationships and interactions. Football has the potential to boost tourism, competitiveness, hard-work, industry, economic viability and peace. In fact, football helps to facilitate sustainable development of society. This is why all stakeholders need to act fast to get the game of football back on track in Nigeria.

Ayooso, a public affairs analyst, resides in Port Harcourt.

Samson Ayooso

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Opinion

Why Reduce Cut-Off Mark for C.O.E ?

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1 day ago

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July 18, 2025

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Quote:”Although the idea of lowering the cut-off to below the pass mark of 200 does not sit well with many Nigerians. 35.5% in any examination anywhere in the world is a fail. And no candidate that scores below 200 should ideally be considered for admission into any tertiary institution in the country.”
Recently, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the tertiary education stakeholders approved 150 as the benchmark for admission into universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education for the 2025/2026 academic session. They, However, clarified that no tertiary institutions should admit students who score below the approved scores, but institutions can still fix higher cut-off marks for their applicants. This has remained the pattern over the years. Higher scores are required to go into universities while applicants with lower scores are welcomed in colleges of education and polytechnics. And the question is, why?  At first glance, the disparity in the entry requirements into universities and colleges of education may appear to be a flexible, inclusive approach to higher education access. However, a deeper look reveals that pegging the college of education cut-off mark so low is not only problematic but a threat to the quality of education and the dignity of the teaching profession in Nigeria.
By setting the minimum entry score for Colleges of Education at just 100 out of 400, the message being sent is loud and clear: teaching is not a profession that demands excellence. It is a profession for the “Olodos” This undermines every effort claimed to be made by the government and stakeholders to reposition teaching as a noble, intellectual, and competitive career. The same country that wants to raise the standard of education cannot afford to lower the standard for training those who will educate future generations. Colleges of Education are responsible for preparing teachers for Nigeria’s basic education sector. These are the people who will teach children in their formative years—the foundation of any nation’s future. If we continue to accept candidates with very low academic abilities into these institutions, how can we expect them to produce competent, inspiring, and innovative educators?
Accepting candidates who score as low as 25% on the UTME is a recipe for mediocrity. It sends a message that anyone can be a teacher, regardless of their intellectual preparation. This will not only dilute the quality of teachers but worsen the already low public perception of the profession. There are many students with strong academic credentials who are genuinely passionate about becoming educators. Setting the cut-off at 100 trivializes their efforts and sacrifices. It lumps them together with individuals who may not have the intellectual or emotional readiness for teaching, leading to overcrowded classrooms, underwhelming graduates, and frustrated employers.While universities are expected to maintain a cut-off mark of 150, colleges of education are effectively reduced to a dumping ground for low-performing candidates. This dichotomy creates a sense of inequality and inferiority around education colleges, when in fact, the reverse should be the case.
If anything, those training to shape young minds should meet standards equal to or higher than university students, not lower.The effects of this policy may not be immediately visible, but in the long run, they will be devastating. We are likely to see: a further decline in basic education outcomes. Someone joked that as the cut-off mark keeps dwindling every academic year, by 2030, the cut-off for the universities will be 100 and that of colleges of education and polytechnics reduced to 70 or 50. Who is fooling who?The chances of having more poorly trained teachers entering the public school system is inevitable. An irritated teacher recently lamented how the public schools are flooded with so-called teachers who do not know their left from their right, compelling the old teachers to do the job of teaching and training them.The low entry requirements to colleges of education can lead to higher attrition rates in the teaching profession due to unprepared candidates; diminished respect and remuneration for teachers; greater educational inequality between rural and urban areas and lots more.
It is therefore advised that rather than lowering standards, those in-charge of the education should raise entry requirements for Colleges of Education to at least 140 or 150 to align with university expectations. Although the idea of lowering the cut-off to below the pass mark of 200 does not sit well with many Nigerians. 35.5% in any examination anywhere in the world is a fail. And no candidate that scores below 200 should ideally be considered for admission into any tertiary institution in the country. As earlier stated, our colleges of education are now painfully places for poor grade students. That should be concerning to those in authority and stakeholders in the education sector. And this can only be corrected when our leaders pay adequate attention to our colleges of education. There should be improved funding and facilities in these institutions to attract top-tier candidates.
Incentives such as scholarships, housing, or job security should be provided for those who perform well and commit to teaching. Some corporate organisations have done this over the years and one thinks it is high time both federal, state and local government areas get visibly and sincerely involved. All over the world, teaching is regarded as a noble and professional career and the case shouldn’t be different in Nigeria. If we are truly serious about fixing Nigeria’s education system, we must start by fixing how we train our teachers. Lowering the cut-off mark to 100 for Colleges of Education is a step backward and a stain on our national conscience. We must demand excellence from those who will one day stand before our children—not just in words, but in policy. After all, the quality of education in any nation will never rise above the quality of its teachers.
The reason usually adduced for lowering the cut-off mark is candidates’ poor performance at entrance exams. And one wonders how lowering the bar will lead to higher performance. How will that challenge students to harder? One thinks it high time those in-charge of the education sector, parents, and teachers think of solving the problems bedeviling the sector from the root instead of the usual method of treating the symptom rather than the disease. There is an urgent need to prioritize the welfare and quality of teachers if we must expect better results. It is also important that the authorities look into the speculations that the lower cut-off is a ploy by some universities to get maximum payment for Post UTME, knowing that no candidate with less than 200 will be given admission into any department in the institutions. This kind of extortion should not be allowed to continue.
What is even the reason for double entrance examinations for a single admission. If UTME is no longer enough to earn admission into higher institutions in Nigeria then JAMB should be scrapped and higher institutions given the authority to conduct their own entrance examinations.On the other hand, if JAMB is still found worthy of conducting credible entrance examinations into tertiary institutions in the country, then we should do away with post UTME examinations. Our education sector must be sanitized for us to get the best, desired result
Calista Ezeaku
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Opinion

Welcome! Worthy Future For R/S

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1 day ago

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July 18, 2025

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Quote:”The June accord is not the end of the crisis. It is the beginning of responsibility.To Fubara: Lead with humility, but do not abandon your authority. To Wike: Let your legacy be one of vision, not vengeance. To the Assembly: Return to your true employers—the people. To President Tinubu: Guard this peace not just with federal might, but moral clarity.”
After months of bitter power tussle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike, months ago, Rivers has finally arrived at a moment that feels like the return of peace. Actually it should be the duty of all stakeholders to see that the peace so brokered between ‘father and son’ is sustained. Just two years ago, this conflict was unthinkable. Fubara, a career technocrat and former Accountant-General, was Wike’s trusted protégé handpicked and handed the reins of power after the 2023 elections. The baton was passed with confidence, perhaps even affection. The State House of Assembly dominated by Wike’s loyalists—moved to impeach him. Nine commissioners resigned. Government House fell eerily silent. Port Harcourt became a city of whispers.
What began as a brotherhood became brinkmanship. And by March 2025, it had spiraled so far that President Bola Tinubu was forced to impose emergency rule, suspending democratic processes and appointing an  administrator to restore order. On June 26, in a closed-door meeting at Aso Rock, Wike and Fubara shook hands under the watchful eyes of President Tinubu. Also present were lawmakers, party leaders, and peacemakers from across the federation. “No more acrimony,” Wike declared. “I will do everything within my power to sustain peace,” Fubara assured. For the people, this truce comes as a welcome relief but not without skepticism.“Peace is good, but we’ve heard this story before,” some said “Let them not sign peace in Abuja and bring trouble back to Port Harcourt.”The memory of the failed December 2023 accord still stings—a deal that promised healing but delivered deeper wounds. This time, the public wants more than promises. They want accountability.
“This is not just a political dispute it is  a leadership crisis that nearly destroyed the democratic soul of Rivers,” says Dr. Felix Chidiebere, a political scientist at the University of Port Harcourt. “Peace now must go beyond handshakes. It must show up in policy, in projects, in people’s lives.”Trust in the Assembly to legislate not legislate loyalty. Trust in the governor to govern with fairness, not fear. Trust in Wike to mentor, not manipulate. And above all, trust in the system to protect democracy. In the months of uncertainty, Rivers lost more than political direction it lost momentum.School roofs remain caved in. Youth empowerment programs are paused. Civil servants fear late salaries. Health centers sit idle. Foreign investors hover with hesitation.
Meanwhile, power brokers jostled for influence while ordinary lives were pushed to the margins. And yet, through it all, the people endured. They endured because they believed Rivers could be more than oil. More than politics. More than pain.
What the state needs at the moment is reconciliation, not revenge. The work ahead is not for politicians alone. Civil society, religious leaders, youth groups, and traditional rulers must now rise—not to pick sides, but to build bridges. There must be structure to this peace: community dialogue, legislative reform, perhaps even a truth and reconciliation commission. Peace, after all, is not a gift. It is a discipline. It must be protected, nourished, and enforced. As the National Youth Council of Nigeria rightly put it: “We want peace, but not at the cost of our constitution
The June accord is not the end of the crisis. It is the beginning of responsibility.To Fubara: Lead with humility, but do not abandon your authority. To Wike: Let your legacy be one of vision, not vengeance. To the Assembly: Return to your true employers—the people. To President Tinubu: Guard this peace not just with federal might, but moral clarity. Peace is the return of salaries. Peace is the sound of classrooms reopening. Peace is a contractor’s tools coming back to life. Peace is a young girl in Eleme daring to dream of becoming governor one day. Rivers doesn’t need perfect leaders. It needs present ones. Honest ones. Human ones.The ink has dried. The cameras are gone. Now begins the harder work—not of declaring peace, but of delivering it. Because in Rivers State, peace must not only be signed. It must be sustained. Yes, peace has come to stay. In my sincere thinking, I can put the current peace deal in the state as ‘No victor , no vanquish’…
 King Onunwor
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Opinion

Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance 

Published

1 week ago

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July 11, 2025

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Quote:”But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged”.

The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.

The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.

For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.

President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.

The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.

Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.

The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.

But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.

It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.

Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.

The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.

Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.

Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.

Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.

Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.

Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.

“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.

The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.

As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.

The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.

By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator

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