Sports
Expert Urges Corporate Support For School Sports
A sports management
consultant, Mr Bello Aideloje, has advocated for corporate support for school sports programmes as a way of sustaining sports development.
The issues of proactive sports development have been in the fore for some time now as the country is constantly seeking for avenues to gainfully engage its youths.
Aideloje told newsmen in Lagos that school sports should be a national template for sports development and should be encouraged by organisations.
“With school sports, dependable athletes can easily be spotted, for at that stage they give in all to stand-out.
“Their ages are known, so there will not be cases of overage athletes in the future, especially in age group events.
“At that level, nurturing athletes to stardom is passion rather than material gains, so, the skills that can sustain an athlete in his/her career is better developed”, Aideloje said.
According to him, almost all the athletes that are doing well today in the world are from schools and academies unlike the professional clinics that we have in Nigeria.
He said that most prospectors of those sports clinic attract corporate sponsorships with their well-tailored proposals without corresponding outcome to sports development.
The sports management consultant, therefore, urged business organisations to structure their sports sponsorship through the schools for a sustainable development.
He decried the situation where most schools lack playground and called on the government to help to reverse the ugly trend.
A cyclist taking the lead during a national event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently.
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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