Sports consultant, Godspower Odedede, has urged Nigerian youths to explore entrepreneurship opportunities within the sports industry as a viable path to economic empowerment and national growth.
Odedede made the call while delivering a lecture at the 3rd Career Lecture organised by the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
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The event, held at Yusuf Bala Usman Hall, Main Campus, Samaru, centred on the theme: “Human Kinetics and Health Education Profession in Nigeria.”
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing the discipline.
He disclosed plans to upgrade the department into a full-fledged faculty, noting that the move aligns with policy support from the Federal Ministry of Education to strengthen sports and related fields in Nigerian universities.
In his presentation, Odedede highlighted the vast economic potential of the sports sector, describing it as a multi-billion-dollar global industry with significant untapped opportunities in Nigeria.
He noted that despite the country’s large youth population and passion for sports, the sector contributes minimally to the Gross Domestic Product.
He identified areas such as sports event management, academies, equipment business, fitness and wellness centres, and sports media platforms as key opportunities for entrepreneurial engagement.
He also pointed to emerging prospects in dance, recreation, and sports tourism driven by urbanisation and rising health awareness.
“The sports industry is no longer just about participation; it is about innovation, business, and job creation,” he said, urging students to develop skills in business management, branding, and digital marketing.
In her keynote address, Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Niger State, expressed concern over the declining attention to physical and health education in schools.
She called for urgent reforms, improved funding, and stronger policy implementation.
Chairman of the occasion, Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, commended the organisers and encouraged students to embrace discipline and professionalism in pursuing opportunities in the sports sector.
