Africa’s first Sports Management & Development Studies Institute gets FG approval

Michael Olumide

Nigeria has approved the establishment of the Institute of Sports Management and Development Studies (ISMDS), a pioneering body its founders say will professionalise sports administration and drive economic growth across Africa.

Speaking on the development, Chairman of the institute’s board of trustees, Abdullah el-Kurebe, thanked the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation for the approval and described ISMDS as “the first of its kind in Africa.”

He said the global sports industry has grown into a multi-billion-dollar sector and warned that “Africa cannot afford to be left behind.”

El-Kurebe said, “We must develop trained professionals who can turn sports into jobs, revenue and lasting community development”.

He stressed the need for modern management skills among sports administrators so they can fully exploit economic, developmental and employment opportunities in the sector.

“The sports sector contributes significantly to national development through youth empowerment, employment generation and revenue creation,” he added, noting that building competent manpower is essential for sustainable growth.

Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of ISMDS, Rev. Stanley Ihedigbo, said the institute will deliver specialised training and professional development programmes for sports managers, administrators and other stakeholders.

“With quality training, research and policy support, we can produce the leaders who will drive reforms and make African sports more competitive internationally,” Rev. Ihedigbo said.

He argued the initiative aligns with national efforts to diversify the economy and harness the commercial potential of sports.

The institute also aims to promote research, innovation and best-practice governance to bridge existing knowledge gaps in sports administration.

Industry observers say a dedicated institution could help standardise training, improve governance in sporting bodies, and create career pathways in sports management, areas that experts believe are crucial if Nigeria and other African nations are to capitalise on the sector’s growth.