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.
Abdullah el-Kurebe, the chairman of the institute’s board of trustees, 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,” the institute said in a statement, stressing the need for modern management skills among 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.
Rev. Stanley Ihedigbo, CEO and registrar of ISMDS, said the institute will deliver specialised training and professional development programmes for 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 its commercial potential. 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.
