The just-concluded Sport Africa Investment Summit at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, marked a historic moment for the African sports industry, as stakeholders, policymakers, and investors gathered to explore the economic and social potential of sports.
The event, held on February 17 and 18, 2025, was the first-ever investment summit in Africa dedicated to sports and saw the signing of a landmark agreement between Sport Nigeria Ltd, founded by Ms. Nkechi Obi, and the Abia State government.
A major highlight of the summit was the breakout session titled “The Mass Participation Strategy – Harnessing the Power of Sports for Community Development.”
This session brought together key industry experts to discuss strategies for leveraging sports to drive social and economic growth within communities.
The panel featured:
– Nkem Ogbuaku, CEO of Shared Insights Ltd., who moderated the session and serves as a Technical Advisory Partner to Sport Nigeria Ltd.
-Professor Yetunde Aluko, Head of Social Policy Development at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), representing the Director-General.
– Oladapo Akande, CEO of EduTimes Africa and a media partner to Sport Nigeria Ltd.
– Dr. Ikenna Nwosu, Facilitator of the THECS policy commission at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Vice-President of the Nigerian America Chamber of Commerce.
– A Special Advisor representing the Minister of Youth Development.
The event had the distinguished presence of His Royal Highness, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, who served as the Royal Father of the Day, further elevating the significance of the summit.
The Presidency’s National Sports Commission partnered with Sport Nigeria Ltd. to host the groundbreaking event, underscoring the government’s commitment to using sports as a tool for economic transformation.
The agreement signed with the Abia State government is expected to usher in a new era of sports infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and economic opportunities in the state.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.