A reputable businessman and sports promoter, Olabanji Oyebusi has come out with a terse verdict that Nigeria’s sports system in universities across the country needs a comprehensive overhaul.
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Sports247 reports that Oyebusi is of a view that Nigeria is lagging behind in the area of producing sports talents from universities because adequate attention is not being paid to infrastructure and welfare of athletes.
He reasoned that better results can be garnered from The Ivory Tower if all universities in Nigeria adopt modern policies and progressive approaches that encourage sports talents to grow along with academic routines in higher institutions.
Oyebusi, who is also the chief executive officer of Dynamic Athletics Hub, stressed that Nigeria’s educational and sports systems require urgent reforms in order to meet modern standards that help talented teenagers combine academics with training activities.
He pointed at the presence of top-notch facilities and strategies that help sports talents develop better in Ghana and Botswana, which he believes Nigeria should also adopt for better results that prevent mass exodus of talents.
Oyebusi further averred that hostel conditions should get improvements in order to encourage normal learning in universities, while students who have interests in various sporting activities should also get better forms of encouragement.
He added. “Nigeria’s university system needs a comprehensive overhaul. We’ve seen examples in Ghana, where regular student hostels are equipped with air conditioning, alongside quality sports facilities and conducive learning environment.
“At the University of Botswana, the campus is located adjacent to the national stadium; while the university itself boasts of its own stadium and other world-class facilties.
“When the educational environment is not conducive, students often graduate with the mindset of first escaping themselves and their families out of poverty, sometimes at the expense of the collective good.”
The athletics guru and youth promoter added that meaningful investment in sports facilities and a proper look at students’ welfare would help create a stronger impact for the sector in Nigeria.
“Improving our university infrastructure and systems will not only enhance learning and sports development, but also help foster a stronger culture of collaboration and long-term national progress for the country,” Oyebusi submitted.
