Stakeholders Urge Government to Prioritize Sports Tourism for Economic Diversification

 

As Nigeria continues its efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil, stakeholders have called on the government at all levels to prioritize the development of sports tourism to accelerate the country’s socio-economic growth.

The stakeholders, from both the public and private sectors, made this appeal during the National Football and Tourism Roundtable held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Friday. The event, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: Exploring the Synergy of Sports Tourism and Foreign Direct Investment”, was organized by the World Football Exhibition in partnership with the Chinese Tourism Promoters Initiative and Emirati Innovative Services. The gathering aimed to explore how Nigeria can tap into its rich sports tourism potential to create jobs and generate revenue.

Sports tourism, a rapidly expanding industry globally, presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria, given the nation’s deep passion for sports, especially football. Stakeholders believe that investing in sports tourism infrastructure—such as modern stadiums, training facilities, and sports museums—could help Nigeria host international events, attract global visitors, stimulate local economies, and promote cultural exchange.

Entrepreneur and public speaker Nana Kazaure, who moderated the panel session “Building a Thriving Sports Tourism in The FCT”, emphasized the investment opportunities within the sector. These opportunities include media rights, merchandising, ticket sales, and sponsorships.

Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), highlighted that sports tourism depends on the availability of facilities to host such events. He pointed out that Nigeria currently only has one FIFA-approved stadium, located in Akwa Ibom State, which has caused the country to lose out on opportunities to host major international events. “Without the necessary infrastructure, including roads and sports facilities, we cannot fully embrace sports tourism,” he said.

Executive Director of the Abuja Trade Center, Mr. Ezekwesili Nnam, acknowledged the huge economic potential of Nigeria’s sports tourism sector, particularly in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). However, he lamented the lack of data and poor infrastructure as significant barriers to progress. “Businessmen need reliable data, but we don’t have enough detailed statistics on the sector,” he noted, stressing the importance of accurate data to attract investment.

Ambassador Aisha Yusuf, representing the Chinese Tourism Promoters, underscored the importance of the synergy between football, tourism, and hospitality in Nigeria. She viewed the roundtable as an ideal platform to discuss and attract foreign investments.

Mr. Akin Laniyi, Project Director of the World Football Exhibition, added that the initiative offered stakeholders from both sectors the chance to collaborate. As part of the exhibition project, a historical book documenting Nigeria’s football journey from the colonial era will be launched in March.

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, who was represented by Akin Laniyi, delivered the keynote address. Obi stressed that sports tourism and foreign direct investment are key to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential. He emphasized that Nigeria’s passion for sports is a strong indicator that, with the right focus, sports tourism can thrive and contribute significantly to the nation’s development.