"Don't give U-10, U-15 athletes cash prizes, give them scholarships" - Adediji
The Principal of Igbobi College Lagos, Venerable Joseph Oyewale Adediji, has challenged stakeholders in Nigerian sports to rethink the way young athletes are rewarded, warning that cash prizes at U-10 and U-15 competitions may do little to secure their long-term sporting and educational future.
Speaking to journalists, Adediji argued that youth competitions should serve as talent identification platforms rather than simply occasions for rewarding children with money after they win.
He advocated a structured system in which exceptional young athletes are identified early and supported through scholarships, quality coaching and sustained development.
“I believe that when U-10 and U-15 players win different competitions, the focus should not necessarily be on monetary rewards. Instead, outstanding players should be offered scholarships to higher institutions where they can continue their education while being properly developed in their respective sports,” he said.
Adediji also linked the growing prominence of football academies to the weakening of Nigeria’s traditional school sports pathway, which once played a major role in discovering and nurturing talents for age grade national teams.
He maintained that the answer is not to abandon school sports, but to rebuild the system with proper structures covering education, coaching, equipment, medical support and regular competition.
“If Nigeria wants to rediscover the school system as a reliable factory for sporting talent, we must stop asking what prize a young athlete should receive today and start asking what support will help that athlete become a champion tomorrow,” Adediji stressed.
His proposal effectively shifts the conversation from rewarding youthful success to investing in future champions, with scholarships and long term development potentially offering young athletes a pathway that combines education with elite sporting ambitions.
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