Big Sports Dialogue 1.0, Nigeria told to fix sports, fast

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By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 

 
Nigeria’s sports heavyweights gathered in Ikoyi on Monday for the first-ever Big Sports Dialogue 0.1, and the message ringing out of the Villa Dome was blunt, Nigeria must overhaul its sports system now, or risk falling even further behind.

Organizing Committee chairman Osaze Ebueku said the dialogue was created to “speak truth to power,” while convener Aron Akeredola stressed that the aim was to rebuild, not blame.

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko defended President Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Sports Ministry, insisting the new Commission is already enforcing reforms, including mandatory women’s representation and a proper athlete reward system.

But panelists were clear: Nigerian sports still suffers from years of weak policies, collapsed structures and neglected athletes.

Aisha Falode, Mitchelle Obi and Olisa Adobor lamented that despite carrying the country internationally, women’s sports still receives minimal attention.
Another panel featuring Pinnick, Shuaibu and Ineh called out the lack of accountability that crippled progress.

The hardest hit came from Dr. Larry Izamoje and others:
“Any Federation President who cannot attract sponsorship should be shown the door.”

The final session pushed for tax holidays and private sector incentives, arguing that sports can become a major driver of Nigeria’s economy, if managed like real business.

The verdict from Lagos is clear:
Nigeria knows what is wrong with its sports. Now it must finally fix it.

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