Volume 13, Issue 2A and 2B, 2025

Rebranding Nigeria's Medal-Winning International Sports Participation: A Case for Systematic School Sports

Oyewumi Isaac Akinloye & Honawon Nunayon Philip

Abstract

The disappointing performance of Nigeria’s contingent at the 2024 Olympics
has sparked a renewed discussion about the importance of systematic school
sports development as a foundation for future success in international
competitions. This would involve not just the inclusion of sports in the school
curriculum, but also establishing a nationwide school sports programme,
investing in modern sports infrastructure, providing training and certification
programs for coaches, and sports administrators, and partnering with
international sports organizations. Systematic school sports development is a
proven strategy in countries that consistently perform well in international
sports. Nigeria as a country possesses the three components that enables
development in sports terrain which are the pool of talent, wealth, and political
structure with the best structure of sports development model just like that of
the United States’ National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). Efforts
must be made towards rebranding the school sports model in operation in
Nigeria to produce the results expected and also the establishment of sports
academy in each state by the government and through public-private
partnership which will promote talent discovery and nurturing as early as
possible.

Keywords

School Sports Model, Systemic School Sports, Rebranding, Winning Medal International Sports Participation

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