Professor Andrew Fadoju of the Department of Human Kinetics at the University of Ibadan has called on the federal government to incorporate sports into social orientation programmes for greater effectiveness.
He made this appeal during the 555th inaugural lecture titled, “Bonding through Sports: The Electrovalent and Covalent Nature of Gregarious Beings” held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
Professor Fadoju emphasised that sports can significantly contribute to individual development and learning within institutions.
He said: “Sports can bring people together, stimulate confidence and teamwork, and attract public and media attention. It also serves as a useful tool for promoting social or policy change.”
Speaking further, Fadoju admonished the government and authorities of universities to further incorporate sports into their academic programmes.
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”Administrators of institutions should place the provision and maintenance of sports facilities, equipment, and supplies on the priority list to avert the dangers of youth restiveness.
”Sports administrators should enact viable policies on sports development in favour of athletes so that foreign sports scouts will less entice them or make them leave the country like payment of athletes salaries and insurance in case injury is sustained.”
“The institution’s senate approved Wednesday “Sports for All” should be taken very seriously”
He hinted that sports development should be given utmost priority at all stages of involvement by sports administrators, coaches, trainers, and sports agents in such a way athletes will gain the requisite skills to stay in their countries and migrate to wherever they desire, earn a living and develop talents successfully.
The Don also explained the symbolic relationship between sport and migration.
He added: “Sport has a global network of connections where people interact and make transactions of all kinds and its development has brought about migration to different countries of the world in a bid to foster socio-cultural development, poverty alleviation, empowerment process as well as economic boosting.
“Sports feature multi-million dollar investments, corporate brands and rivalries, and global media coverage with value-based first-class.”