Former Nigerian footballer Mutiu Adepoju has urged the Nigerian government and other relevant agencies to prioritize grassroots sports development. Adepoju believes this is crucial for discovering and nurturing new talents who can represent Nigeria on the international stage.
Speaking at the ongoing 18th edition of the Research Institutes Games Association of Nigeria (RIGAN) games in Ibadan, Adepoju, fondly known as “the Headmaster,” emphasized the abundance of hidden talent in the country. He stressed that only through robust programs at the grassroots level can these talents be unearthed and developed.
“There are a lot of hidden talents,” Adepoju said. “The government should make more efforts in promoting grassroots sports development.”
The 53-year-old former Real Sociedad player’s comments come amidst discussions about the challenges hindering the growth of Nigerian sports. Funding appears to be a major obstacle, as highlighted by Oluwaferanmi Owolade, RIGAN’s national president.
The games kicked off on Wednesday with CRIN defeating ARMTI 1-0 in the opening match.
