United States-based sports enthusiast, Michael Farojoye, has issued a passionate call for Nigeria to match its growing sports ambitions with the construction of modern, world-class facilities — insisting that a true sports industry cannot exist without the right infrastructure to sustain it.
Speaking on the current state of sports development in the country, Farojoye emphasized that while Nigeria is witnessing a renewed wave of enthusiasm and innovation, the foundation for long-term success remains incomplete without proper investment in the basic elements that make professional sports thrive.
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“The sports industry without stadiums, gyms, lawn and table tennis courts, food barns, therapy clinics, and ultra-modern drug test centres is zero,” Farojoye stated bluntly. “It’s never going to work until we start building the right facilities to meet the right sports vision and the everyday needs of our athletes.”
Farojoye, who has spent years studying the U.S. sports ecosystem, noted that Nigeria’s massive potential can only translate into real growth when infrastructure development is treated as a priority rather than an afterthought.
“Every great sports nation invests first in its facilities,” he said. “You can’t build a lasting sports economy if athletes don’t have access to standard gyms, training centres, medical care, and proper venues to perform at their best.”
He added that with the current reform efforts led by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and private initiatives such as the Showtime Flag Football League, the time has come for Nigeria to take a holistic approach to sports development — one that combines passion with planning, and vision with infrastructure.
Farojoye concluded with a call to action for both government and private investors to step forward:
“If we truly want to build a sports industry that creates jobs, inspires youth, and competes globally, we must start by building the right facilities. That’s where the real game begins.”
