13th July, 2012
The dwindling fortunes of sports in Nigeria can only be revived if corporate organizations in the country embrace sports in its totality; this is the declaration of elder Dan Ajibode and ex-international Chief Segun Odegbami, MON.
Both, who spoke with sports journalists during the unveiling ceremony for the 40th remembrance ceremony for the late Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun are of the view that if corporate organizations in Nigeria are up and doing that the country will be a force to reckon with on the international scene.
Ajibode, who played for the defunct Old Western region football team from 1958 to 1961 said that aside football, Nigeria is blessed with a lot of sporting talents but opined that there is paramount need for the corporate organizations to sponsor athletes.
The ex-footballer, who was discovered by the late Balogun said that if the corporate bodies can channel their resources to sports properly that they stand to gain a lot.
According to him ‘The corporate companies in Nigeria must wake up to their responsibility of sponsoring sports and athletes, because of they do athletes will know that when they stop taking part in sports they will have something to fall back on’.
While corroborating Ajibode’s stand, Odegbami said other corporate bodies should take a cue from FirstBank of Nigeria, who made Nigeria’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare a brand ambassador saying that if others can emulate FirstBank it would be good for sports development in the country.
—ADEBOBOLA ALAWODE