Garden City University (GCU), Kumasi, Ghana & International Sports Institute Educational Trust have announced a landmark partnership to introduce West Africa’s first degree pathway programme designed specifically for active sports men and women.
The initiative, known as the Sports-for-Development Degree Foundation Program, is expected to commence in September 2026 and aims to help athletes combine education with their sporting careers without having to sacrifice either.
According to the institutions, the programme is athlete-centred and will be delivered virtually online to provide flexibility for participants actively engaged in sports across the region.
The programme will offer courses in Social and Management Sciences, Sports Management, Sports Science, Entrepreneurship, Media and Development Studies, equipping athletes with skills and qualifications for careers during and after their sporting journeys.
The initiative is open to active male and female athletes between the ages of 17 and 35 from countries across West Africa, including Nigeria and Ghana.
Vice-Chancellor of Garden City University, Eric Ofori, described the partnership as a major step toward securing the future of athletes in the region.
“Athletes give their prime years to nation and continent. This partnership ensures we also give them a future. By 2030, we will graduate thousands of athlete-scholars to lead West African sport,” he said.
Founder of International Sports Institute Educational Trust Ltd/Gte, Oluwaseun Omotayo, noted that the programme would help athletes prepare for life beyond active competition.
“An athlete’s career averages 10 years. A degree lasts a lifetime. This Foundation Program is the bridge and beginning of the pathway,” he stated.
Garden City University is an accredited private university under the Ghana Tertiary Education Council with over 4,000 students in Kumasi, Ghana, while the International Sports Institute Educational Trust Ltd/Gte is a Pan-African non-profit organisation registered in Nigeria.
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