The Founder of AMAPRO, Shogo Shodunnke, has emphasized the urgent need for professionalism, capacity building, and certified leadership within Nigeria’s sports ecosystem following the successful hosting of the Project Management and Leadership Skills in the Modern Sports Ecosystem Webinar held on Saturday at the Ilorin Innovation Hub.
The programme, organized through a strategic partnership between AMAPRO and the Project Management Institute of Nigeria (PMI Nigeria), attracted participants both physically at the Ilorin Innovation Hub and virtually via Google Meet.
Speaking after the event, Shodunnke noted that exposure to global best practices has reinforced the need for Nigeria and Africa to embrace modern approaches to sports management, leadership, and project execution.
According to him, sports has evolved into a project-driven industry that requires competent professionals capable of delivering sustainable results.
“Sports is now a project, and we need competent leaders who can manage our sports sector effectively. We have visited clubs, associations, and federations across different countries and seen how things are done. Looking at nations such as Rwanda and Morocco, it is clear that we must continue to build knowledge and capacity within the sports sector across Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
Shodunnke revealed that AMAPRO has established strategic partnerships with PMI Nigeria and Ace Athletics in Madrid to equip sports stakeholders with expertise in project management, data analysis, leadership, and other critical areas essential for sustainable sports development.
He identified the lack of professionally trained administrators as one of the biggest challenges facing the sports industry.
“If you look around, many positions in sports administration are occupied by individuals who emerged through political affiliations or personal relationships. Our findings showed that many people managing sports projects are not certified. Just as you cannot practise medicine without being a doctor or represent clients in court without being a lawyer, sports administration should also be handled by trained professionals,” he stated.
He added that empowering administrators with relevant knowledge and certifications would create a more productive sports ecosystem capable of attracting investment, generating employment opportunities, and driving community development.
Reflecting on AMAPRO’s previous initiatives, Shodunnke highlighted the success of the Beyond the Pitch programme held last year, which featured Chelsea FC Chief Scout Seyi Olofinjana and a lecturer from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin.
The programme focused on strengthening communication between sports federations and associations while introducing modern talent identification strategies.
Shodunnke disclosed that AMAPRO remains committed to promoting continuous learning and innovation within the sports sector, with additional developmental programmes already planned later this year despite preparations for the 2026 AMAPRO Football Championship scheduled for July.
He, however, expressed disappointment over the low turnout of sports administrators and stakeholders at the webinar, urging industry practitioners to embrace educational opportunities that can enhance their effectiveness and contribute meaningfully to sports development in Kwara State.
“It is not encouraging for us to organize programmes like this and have only a few stakeholders present. Many administrators were absent, perhaps because they felt they did not need it or believed they were bigger than this. Nevertheless, we appreciate everyone who attended and supported the programme,” he said.
Shodunnke stressed that the webinar was only the beginning of a broader learning journey and encouraged participants to pursue professional certifications through PMI Nigeria while maintaining active collaboration with AMAPRO.
“This is just a foundational class. Participants need to take the next step by enrolling in PMI courses to become certified project managers. We also want them to continue collaborating with AMAPRO because achieving greatness requires commitment, contribution, and collective effort,” he added.
The webinar featured presentations from notable resource persons Anthony Dele Daniel, Adekemi Oyewusi, Aransionla Goodluck, and Sikemi Yomi Adeyanju, who shared valuable insights on leadership, project management, and sustainable sports development.
The event forms part of AMAPRO’s broader vision of building a knowledgeable, innovative, and professionally driven sports ecosystem capable of transforming lives, creating opportunities, and advancing sports development across Kwara State and Nigeria.
