Veteran grassroots football coach and academy administrator, Coach Adeyemi Ajuwon, has called on governments at all levels to prioritise youth development by investing in grassroots sports facilities, football academies and programmes that nurture young talents across Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with Sports247, Ajuwon described sports as one of the most effective tools for youth empowerment, saying adequate investment in grassroots infrastructure would not only produce future football stars but also help reduce unemployment, crime and social vices among young people.
According to him, football academies remain the foundation of talent development worldwide, yet they continue to receive little attention in Nigeria despite producing the country’s future professionals.
“The government is not looking into the academies, and that is where the talented players come from. In Europe, players begin from academy systems before progressing to professional clubs. That is the model we should be following,” he said.
Ajuwon recalled his playing days in the early 1980s, noting that while football has become more commercial over the years, grassroots coaches and academy owners still bear the burden of developing players with minimal support.
He identified the shortage of quality sports facilities as one of the biggest challenges limiting youth development through sports.
“In Lagos, we have very few standard facilities available. Many academies have to pay huge amounts every year just to use training pitches. Developing players has become very expensive, yet most academy owners are doing it purely out of passion,” he explained.
The veteran coach urged government agencies to build more community sports centres and football pitches that would be easily accessible to young athletes and grassroots clubs. He also appealed for financial support for registered academies and lower registration fees for emerging clubs.
According to Ajuwon, many promising young footballers are unable to fulfil their potential because their academies struggle to finance registration, equipment, transportation and participation in competitions.
“There are many talented players under the age of 15, but without support, their dreams may never be realised. Many academies are not even registered because they cannot afford the fees.
Government should make the process easier and support those genuinely developing young players,” he added.
He further highlighted the enormous financial burden carried by grassroots coaches, many of whom personally fund players’ transportation, camping, training equipment and competition expenses.
Drawing comparisons with the United Kingdom, Ajuwon said government investment in sports infrastructure abroad has created an environment where youth development thrives.
“I was in the UK and saw government-owned facilities with dozens of standard football pitches. Here in Nigeria, we don’t have enough quality pitches. Sometimes we have to travel long distances just to find a good field for competitions, and the costs are becoming unbearable,” he said.
Ajuwon concluded by urging policymakers to recognise grassroots sports as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
“If government truly invests in grassroots sports, many young people who are on the streets today can discover their talents and build successful careers. Sports can transform lives and give hope to the next generation,” he stated.
