3rd April, 2013
As the 15th edition of the NNPC/Shell football competition drew to an end at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State, recently, one thing was certain: Nigeria can produce athletes that could compete against the best in in every sport if there was adequate corporate sponsorship.
The youngsters that participated in the tournament proved they could compete with their peers anywhere in the world. Although they did not have outlandish facilities and equipment, they possessed the tactical and technical skills required of a footballer but there are really no platforms to show their talents.
A confirmation of this opinion was established by the National School Sports Federation public relations officer Kudu B.Omar. He explained that for many years only Shell and Nestle have consistently sponsored football and basketball respectively, producing stars that have represented the country.
“They are the only two sponsors that have been consistent. We need sponsors because the boys are on the ground willing to participate in these sports. We don’t have money to sponsor sports, the only place where we have a say is the National Sports Festival where we plead with states to host,” he said.
School sports have gradually slipped into oblivion because of the dismal level of sports sponsorship by corporate organisations. In countries where sports have been successful, private sponsorship has been the major driver. Rather than do social corporate responsibility in areas that have little or no effect, these companies can help transform the lives of potential athletes.
People often say the Niger Delta region can produce the best swimmers in the world but they have not. The swimmers are there aplenty but their skills need to be honed when they are young. The oil companies that operate in the Niger-Delta can create peace in the region if they actually invest in these young swimmers and other talented athletes.
Nigerians will be filled with pride if we ever see a Nigerian swimmer competing at the Olympic Games. The positive reaction it will generate will be contagious. This will inspire other young swimmers and boost the image of the company that sponsored the swimmer.
In the north, the energy of restive youths can be channelled into archery and long distance races where Ethiopia and Kenya have dominated for many years. Sponsoring sports like these opens a new world of possibilities for many Nigerians. It will fully engage idle youths and take them away from violent crimes and other anti-social activities that undermine peace in that region.
Private sponsors have often cited the greed and corrupt tendency of sports administrators as a barrier but they can sponsor school sports without putting the funds in the hands of our sports administrators who are notorious for their corrupt disposition.
Corporate organistaions can open a floodgate of opportunities by sponsoring sports in Nigeria. There is need to help secondary school students become icons and ultimately corporate organisations will be the biggest beneficiaries because they will be helping a person, a family, a community, a state and turning our country into a great sports nation to reckon with internationally.