Professor Andrew Fadoju of the Department of Human Kinetics at the University of Ibadan has urged the Federal Government to integrate sports into social orientation programmes to enhance their effectiveness.
Delivering the 555th inaugural lecture, themed “Bonding through sports: The Electrovalent and Covalent Nature of Gregarious Beings” at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Professor Fadoju highlighted the significant role of sports in fostering individual development, learning, and social change.
“Sports has the ability to bring people together, stimulate confidence and teamwork, attract public and media attention, and serve as a useful tool for promoting social or policy change,” he stated.
The professor advocated for administrators of institutions to prioritize the provision and maintenance of sports facilities, equipment, and supplies to address the dangers of youth restlessness. He also called for the enactment of viable policies on sports development, including the payment of athletes’ salaries and insurance in case of injuries.
Furthermore, Professor Fadoju emphasized the symbolic relationship between sports and migration, highlighting how sports have become a global network of connections where people interact and make transactions, leading to the migration of athletes to different countries to foster socio-cultural development, poverty alleviation, empowerment, and economic growth.
“Sports feature multi-million dollar investments, corporate brands and rivalries, and global media coverage with value-based first-class,” the don explained.
The professor urged the government and authorities of universities to further incorporate sports into their academic programmes, emphasizing the need for sports development to be given the utmost priority at all stages of involvement by sports administrators, coaches, trainers, and sports agents to ensure that athletes gain the requisite skills to stay in their countries and migrate to wherever they desire, earn a living, and develop their talents successfully.
