To align Nigeria with global standards in sports management and athlete performance analytics, stakeholders at the two-day Scientific Congress, held during the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, have emphasised the need for the deployment of innovative technology.

The Scientific Congress, themed “Strategies for the Development of a Viable Sports Economy in Nigeria: Merging Market Dynamics with Sports Medicine Excellence,” was successfully convened by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

It brought together key stakeholders, including sports practitioners, policymakers, medical professionals, scholars, and athletes, to strategically integrate sports management and medical innovations to advance the Nigerian sports sector.

In the communique issued and signed by the President of the Nigeria Association of Sports Medicine (NASMED), Dr. Olajide Joseph Adebola, several key recommendations were outlined. These include the strengthening of public-private partnerships, incentivizing corporate involvement in sports development, and the adoption of innovative technology for sports event management and athlete performance analytics.

The Congress also called for a comprehensive review and reinforcement of the national sports regulatory framework, with greater investment in specialized sports medicine research, professional training, and healthcare infrastructure emphasized as crucial to sustaining athlete performance and safety.

To combat doping, stakeholders recommended the immediate implementation of comprehensive safeguarding and anti-doping policies aligned with international standards. Additionally, they advocated for the establishment of dedicated rehabilitation centres that offer holistic care, including psychological support and advanced medical services, and the development of robust sports injury insurance policies to provide both financial and medical support for athletes.

The Congress further urged NIPSS to convene a high-level stakeholder forum focused on sports, economic opportunities, and job creation for Nigerian youth, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope reform agenda.

Highlights from the event included the call for innovative financial models, the exploration of digital media, consumer behaviour analytics, and sponsorship innovations. The Congress emphasized the importance of creating favourable policies to attract private sector investments and adopting a structured approach to sports commercialization.

Recommendations also included leveraging technology-driven solutions for logistics and event management to elevate the quality and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s national sports events.

Emphasis was placed on individualized injury prevention strategies, psychological support systems, and effective rehabilitation programs. The establishment of specialized athlete rehabilitation centres focusing on both physical and mental recovery was also proposed.

The Congress acknowledged the valuable support of NIPSS and the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

Stakeholders pledged a firm commitment to the collaborative implementation of the outlined strategies. It was unanimously agreed that these efforts would significantly contribute to building a robust, economically vibrant, and ethically sound sports environment in Nigeria, enhancing the nation’s reputation on the international stage.

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