Oyo NUJ @60th Anniversary: Tinubu Targets One-Hour Daily Physical Education in Secondary Schools For Talent Discovery

…As Felix Owolabi, Ogundipe Demand Return to Grassroots Talent Hunt

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has called for the revival of school sports and grassroots talent-identification programmes as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s sports sector.

Adeboye, who spoke through the Chief Operating Officer of Smart City Football Club, Seun Betiku, at an event marking the 60th anniversary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, also advocated the reintroduction of compulsory physical education in secondary schools.

He said the Federal Government was working with the National Sports Commission to ensure that every secondary school student participates in at least one hour of physical education daily, noting that the initiative would help restore the sporting culture that once provided opportunities for young talents to develop.

According to him, the proposed programme would expose students to various sporting activities, including athletics, football, volleyball, long jump and high jump, while providing an organised platform for discovering promising athletes.

Adeboye, who recalled benefiting from the Shell-sponsored school sports programme during his secondary school days, said the government was determined to recreate an era when school competitions served as a major pipeline for producing national and international sporting stars.

He disclosed that discussions with the Moroccan Ambassador and the leadership of the Moroccan Football Federation were also part of efforts to develop a sustainable blueprint for school football, adding that representatives of the North African country would participate in the forthcoming National Grassroots Sports Development Summit.

The presidential aide urged journalists to give greater attention to grassroots sporting activities, arguing that positive media coverage would attract corporate sponsorship and private-sector investment into the sector.

He also called on parents to encourage their female children to participate in sporting activities, lamenting that negative parental attitudes remained one of the challenges limiting female participation in sports.

On talent discovery, Adeboye advocated a return to nationwide scouting exercises for national youth teams, particularly the Under-17 and Under-20 sides, noting that promising players should be identified through their performances in different communities rather than relying solely on recommendations from football agents and managers.

He further called for the rehabilitation of sporting facilities in secondary schools through partnerships involving government, politicians, corporate organisations and private individuals.

Meanwhile, former National President of the NUJ, Comrade Lanre Ogundipe, criticised the administration of Nigerian sports, alleging that political considerations and personal interests had undermined professionalism and effective management in the sector.

Ogundipe expressed concern over what he described as the appointment of individuals without the requisite sporting knowledge to strategic positions, alleging that qualified professionals had been sidelined in the administration of sports.

He also raised concerns about alleged exploitation and sexual harassment of female footballers, insisting that government must address practices capable of discouraging talented women from representing the country.

The veteran journalist called on the government to assemble former Nigerian football stars, including Felix Owolabi and Segun Odegbami, to develop a comprehensive template for repositioning the country’s sports sector.

Similarly, former Green Eagles midfielder, Felix Owolabi, advocated the appointment of experienced sports professionals to key positions, insisting that grassroots football development required people with practical knowledge of the game.

Owolabi lamented the decline of the talent-identification and screening process that previously produced players for the national teams, recalling that prospective players were subjected to rigorous scouting and assessment before earning invitations.

He said the national team jersey was once earned through commitment, competition and consistent performances, unlike what he described as the present situation where players could receive national team invitations without adequate assessment.

The former international stressed that competent coaches must be allowed to identify and recommend players based on their abilities, warning that the nation’s football development would remain difficult without a credible selection process.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, described sports journalism as an important instrument for talent discovery, national unity, accountability and the promotion of sporting excellence.

Abas urged sports writers to embrace digital innovation, artificial intelligence, investigative journalism and data-driven reporting while maintaining accuracy, fairness, integrity and professional ethics.

He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to journalists’ welfare, unity among chapels and professional development, while commending the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State Chapter, for its contributions to the success of the anniversary celebration.

In his remarks, the Chairman of SWAN, Oyo State Chapter, Otunba Ayomiku Ajibola, said sports journalists had responsibilities beyond reporting match results, victories and defeats, stressing the need to promote transparency in sports administration, grassroots development and athletes’ welfare.

Ajibola congratulated the NUJ on its 60th anniversary and called for stronger collaboration between the union and SWAN to advance journalism and sports development in the state.

The event formed part of activities marking the NUJ Oyo State Council’s Diamond Jubilee and 2026 Press Week celebration.

Dignataries at the event are; Hon Gbenga Adewusi (Arole), Oyo State FA Chairman Oba James Odeniran, Former NUJ National President, Lanre Ogundipe, Ambassador Romoke Ayinde (Kayrom Lee), Former Green Eagle player, Felix Owolabi.