head coach Ogunmodede has urged Nigerian universities to establish stronger partnerships with football clubs to give students practical experience in the sports industry.
Kano Pillars FC head coach Ogunmodede has urged Nigerian universities to establish stronger partnerships with football clubs to give students practical experience in the sports industry.
Ogunmodede made the call on Thursday while speaking at the 54th National Conference of the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHAR-SD) at Bayero University, Kano.
He said football clubs provide valuable opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience by working alongside coaches, physiotherapists, fitness trainers and other sports professionals.
According to him, students studying physiotherapy, sports science, fitness training and other sports-related disciplines can contribute their knowledge to football clubs while gaining practical experience outside the classroom.
The Kano Pillars coach also raised concerns about the future of footballers after retirement, noting that many former players struggle to remain connected to the sports industry.
He therefore called on universities to equip athletes with education, professional skills and relevant knowledge during their playing careers, so they can remain productive and continue contributing to the sporting sector after retirement.
The Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Education, Kontagora, Professor Faruk Rashid Haruna, backed the proposal and called for stronger collaboration between universities, football clubs and sports councils.
He urged Departments of Kinetics and Health Education to take the lead in building such partnerships, stressing that athletes should be developed through scientific and structured methods rather than by chance.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sports Consultative Committee, Bayero University, Kano, Professor Abdullahi Darki, described the recommendations as timely.
He disclosed that Bayero University is currently developing a sports policy and assured participants that the recommendations presented at the conference would be considered in the policy.
The proposed university–club partnerships could provide students with practical exposure while helping Nigerian football develop a stronger pipeline of professionally trained coaches, medical personnel, fitness specialists and other sports professionals.
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