The Principal of Igbobi College Lagos, Venerable Joseph Oyewale Adediji, has called for stronger collaboration between government, school owners and alumni to revive extracurricular activities and school sports across Nigeria.
Speaking in an exclusive SPORTS247 interview, Adediji identified inadequate facilities and weak approval processes as some of the challenges affecting the development of extracurricular activities in schools.
Responding to concerns about schools receiving approval despite having little or no space for meaningful extracurricular activities, the Igbobi College principal agreed that the situation requires urgent attention from the authorities.
“I agree with your submission, and I would like to mention that the government needs to do more in terms of granting approval to schools. Authorities should examine the environment and available facilities before giving approval,” he said.
According to Adediji, school owners also have an important responsibility to ensure that the development of students goes beyond classroom education.
“School owners should also not jeopardise the future of our young people by failing to provide adequate facilities for extracurricular activities,” he stressed.
He further argued that education should not be viewed primarily as a business venture, but as an avenue to develop responsible and productive members of society.
“Education should not be solely for monetary gain; it should be about giving back to society, impacting lives, and developing young people. This will help produce professionals who will make the nation proud,” he added.
The discussion also focused on the role of former professional athletes and ex-internationals in inspiring the next generation.
Nigeria has produced several accomplished sports personalities through institutions such as Igbobi College and other schools, but many institutions have struggled to maintain strong connections with their former students.
Adediji revealed that Igbobi College has already begun taking steps to address this gap through a dedicated programme aimed at reconnecting with its sporting alumni.
“At Igbobi College, we have started something along those lines. It involves inviting ex-internationals to return to the school, encourage the younger ones, and give back to their alma mater. There is already a programme in place at the school for this purpose,” he explained.
The Principal believes the presence of former internationals can have a powerful psychological impact on young athletes.
“When the young players see these ex-internationals, they become encouraged and motivated to aspire to become like them,” he said.
For Adediji, improving facilities while reconnecting schools with their sporting alumni could provide an important foundation for rebuilding Nigeria’s grassroots sports development system.
