Former Super Eagles captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, has urged the Federal Government to harness the economic potential of sports as a driver of Nigeria’s creative economy, job creation and national development.
Odegbami made the call on Thursday, September 24, while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Executive Course 48 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos. Speaking on “The Role of Sports as an Enabler of the Orange Economy”, he said Nigeria needed stronger structures and capacity to compete meaningfully in the global sports economy.
He said sports went beyond football and competitions, covering areas such as ticketing, branding, insurance, sportswear, player branding, facilities and the supply of goods and services. According to him, properly developing the wider ecosystem could generate wealth, create jobs and contribute significantly to economic growth.
Odegbami described sports as an “untapped territory” with potential to promote national unity and integration. He called for deliberate investment in infrastructure that would remain useful beyond major sporting events, citing countries that incorporate sports and physical activity into broader infrastructure planning.
He also urged authorities to design roads, public spaces and stadiums in ways that encourage physical activity and ensure sporting facilities remain productive after competitions. He said Nigeria could draw lessons from countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia and some Scandinavian nations in integrating sports into development planning.
The lecture formed part of activities for SEC 48, which focuses on harnessing Nigeria’s creative potential, talent and entrepreneurship for sustainable national development.
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