Flamingos Success: SWAN chairman urges politicians to invest in grassroots sports
Flamingos Success: SWAN chairman urges politicians to invest in grassroots sports
Qozeem Oladapo, Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ekiti State Chapter, has urged politicians to emulate the success of the Flamingos by investing in grassroots sports development to discover and nurture young talents.
Oladapo made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, while reflecting on the achievement of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team.
He said the Flamingos’ success at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup had demonstrated the enormous potential of Nigerian youths when given the right opportunities, training and support.
He noted that many of the players began their football careers at the grassroots, stressing that their achievement underscored the importance of identifying and nurturing young talents from an early age.
“The success of the Flamingos is a clear indication that our young people have enormous potential.
“Many of these players started from the grassroots, and with proper discovery, training and support, they were able to represent Nigeria successfully on the world stage,” he said.
Oladapo urged serving political office holders and those aspiring to public offices to make grassroots sports development a priority as part of their commitment to youth empowerment.
He said politicians should use their positions to provide sporting facilities, organise grassroots competitions and support young athletes with the resources needed to develop their talents.
According to him, aspirants seeking elective positions should make sports development an integral part of their campaign promises and demonstrate genuine commitment to youth development.
“Politicians must understand that sports development goes beyond organising competitions; it requires deliberate investment in facilities, equipment, coaching and opportunities for young people to discover and develop their talents,” he said.
The SWAN chairman said grassroots sports remained the foundation of national sports development, noting that many outstanding athletes started their careers in schools, communities and local competitions.
He described sports as a veritable instrument for youth empowerment, employment generation, social integration and community development.
Oladapo called on government at all levels to rehabilitate existing sports facilities, construct standard playing grounds and provide sporting equipment to schools and communities across Ekiti.
He also advocated regular inter-school competitions, local government sports festivals and talent-hunt programmes to identify promising athletes at an early age.
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He said talented youths should have access to professional coaching, medical support, training opportunities and financial assistance to enable them compete favourably at national and international levels.
Oladapo noted that empowering young people through sports would promote discipline, confidence, leadership skills and responsibility, while providing alternatives to social vices.
He urged political leaders to replicate the opportunities that produced the Flamingos by investing in community-based sports programmes and creating pathways for talented youths to progress to professional and national teams.
He further called for stronger collaboration among the state government, local government councils, schools, sports associations, private organisations and community leaders to establish a sustainable sports development structure in Ekiti.
Oladapo maintained that investment in grassroots sports would improve the state’s sporting fortunes and create opportunities for young people to become professionals, entrepreneurs and ambassadors of the state.
“Those currently in public offices and those aspiring to occupy political positions should see investment in grassroots sports as an investment in the future of our youths.
“It is a legacy that will continue to benefit the state long after their tenure,” he said.
He appealed to politicians to make youth development through sports a lasting legacy of their public service rather than a temporary initiative introduced during political campaigns.
