A youth-driven advocacy group, Concerned Youths for Grassroots Development (CYGD), has called on both the Oyo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly to urgently prioritize funding for sports and extracurricular activities in public schools across Nigeria.
At a press briefing held in Lagos on Monday, the group decried what it termed “the systemic neglect of sports development” in government-owned schools, noting that this trend threatens the future of youth empowerment, national unity, and athletic excellence.
Referencing the annual Nestlé Milo Basketball Championship, which has become a beacon of school sports development and talent discovery across Nigeria, the group lamented the absence of similar government-backed initiatives. They emphasized that most of the participating schools in the tournament are privately funded, while government-owned schools often lack the basic infrastructure and support to participate.
“The success of the Nestlé Milo Basketball Championship is a clear example of what is possible when consistent investment is made in school sports,” said the coordinator of CYGD.
“Yet, our government schools are sidelined, unable to even field teams due to lack of funding, equipment, or trained personnel.”
CYGD called on the Chairmen of the House Committees on Sports at both the Oyo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly respectively to take urgent legislative action.
The group urged them to push for budgetary allocation, implementation of school sports policies, and revival of inter-school competitions nationwide.
“Our lawmakers must go beyond rhetoric and sponsor actionable motions that will compel the Ministries of Education and Sports to revive school sports culture,” he added.
“We are demanding accountability and visible action from those tasked with developing sports policy.”
The group further stressed that beyond talent discovery, extracurricular engagement through sports plays a vital role in reducing youth delinquency, improving mental health, and fostering discipline among students.
“Nigeria cannot produce future Olympians or football stars if we continue to abandon sports at the grassroots. What message are we sending to our children when public schools can’t even afford a basketball or a standard pitch?” the statement queried.
The group is calling for the establishment of a National School Sports Trust Fund and state-level equivalents to guarantee sustainable funding for school sports infrastructure, coaching, and competition logistics.
They also recommended partnerships with the private sector to replicate the impact of the Milo Basketball Championship across other sporting disciplines.
As national attention increasingly shifts toward youth development and education reform, the group vowed to continue engaging stakeholders, organizing community town halls, and petitioning lawmakers until meaningful change is achieved.
“If we want a brighter future, we must invest in the foundation today and that foundation is our youth,” the group concluded.
