Sports
‘Grassroots Dev, Way To Revive Sports’
A university Don has said that grassroots sports development
was the only way to revive sports in the country.
Head of Department (HOD), Human Kinetics and Health
Education, of University of Lagos, Adeyemi Awopetu, made his views known in an interview with
newsmen in Lagos.
According to him, unless sports competitions are revived in
schools, the situation will continue to be awful for the nation.
The HOD said that it was from there that the country could
select athletes to groom to represent the country at future national and
international competitions.
“A lot of the problems bedevilling our sports is due to poor
sport administration, there is a need for us to reorganise the way sport is
been administered in the country.
“There is a need for us to go back to grassroot sport
development, there is a need for us to look into our schools to recruit young
men, boys, girls.
“Who we can groom to become stars in the sports arena and
there’s a need for government, private individuals and other stakeholders to
also develop school sports.
“In the past most of the sportsmen and women were fed from
the schools, if we go back to the development of sports in schools right from
primary schools.
“Up to the secondary schools, the tertiary education,
colleges of education, polytechnics and universities, we fund sports in this
areas, we would be able to recruit the young men and women,
The HOD cited Emmanuel Ifejuna as an example of a student,
then of the University College, Ibadan, who won a gold medal in high jump in
the 1954 Vancouver Commonwealth Games.
Awopetu gave the assurance that if school sports were
revived the way it had been in the 60’s and 70’s, then there would be
improvements, instead of the current decline.
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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