A leading sports advocate, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, has called for the appointment of technocrats to oversee Nigeria’s sports sector, insisting that professional expertise, not political considerations, is needed to revive the nation’s dwindling sporting fortunes.
Atoyebi, who recently received a sports role model award in Denmark, made the call at the maiden edition of the Big Sports Dialogue 0.1 held on Monday, November 24, at Villa Doom, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The forum convened sports administrators, industry stakeholders, and media professionals to examine the sector’s deep-rooted challenges.
Speaking as a panelist, Atoyebi identified the absence of technocratic leadership and the poor state of sports infrastructure as the sector’s most pressing problems.
She stressed that genuine reform would only begin when these issues are confronted with seriousness and urgency.
According to her, appointing professionals with a clear understanding of the industry would enable the development and implementation of realistic policies, while ensuring accountability—an element she described as “critical to progress.”
Atoyebi also underscored the need for massive investment in sports infrastructure, noting that no meaningful transformation can occur without properly maintained facilities.
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She added that many nations have achieved sporting breakthroughs by prioritising modern, athlete-focused infrastructure.
Expressing concern over the continued marginalisation of women’s sports in Nigeria, she noted that female athletes have historically delivered more international honours than their male counterparts, yet still receive inadequate support and recognition.
She urged policymakers and stakeholders to address this imbalance.
Atoyebi commended the organisers of the dialogue for creating a platform that fosters frank conversations.
She expressed hope that by the next edition, there would be visible progress driven by the recommendations shared at the event.



