Shogo Shodunnke calls for certified sports administrators at AMAPRO leadership workshop

The brain behind AMAPRO, Mr. Shogo Shodunnke, has emphasized the urgent need for professionalism, capacity building and certified leadership within the Nigerian sports ecosystem following the successful organization of the webinar on Project Management and Leadership Skills in the Modern Sports Ecosystem held on Saturday at the Ilorin Innovation Centre.

The event, organized through a collaboration between AMAPRO and the Project Management Institute of Nigeria (PMI Nigeria), attracted participants physically at the Ilorin Innovation Hub and virtually through Google Meet.

Speaking after the programme, Shodunnke said exposure to global best practices in sports management has revealed the need for Nigeria and Africa to adopt modern approaches to the management, leadership and execution of sports projects.

According to him, sport has become a large project-driven industry that requires competent and qualified professionals capable of delivering sustainable results.

“We have visited various clubs, associations and federations and seen how things are done elsewhere. Sport is now a project and we need competent leaders who can manage our sports sector effectively. We have seen what is happening in countries like Rwanda and Morocco, and there is a need for us to increase knowledge and capacity within the sports sector in Africa and Nigeria,” he said.

Shodunnke revealed that AMAPRO has established strategic partnerships with PMI Nigeria and Ace Athletics in Madrid to train sports stakeholders in project management, data analytics, leadership and other critical areas necessary for sustainable sports development.

He noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the sports sector is the lack of professionally trained administrators.

“If we look around us, many positions in sports administration are filled by people who may have been appointed through political affiliations or personal relationships. We conducted our analysis and discovered that many people who run sports projects are not certified. Just as you cannot practice medicine without being a doctor or represent a client in court without being a lawyer, sports administration must also be run by trained professionals,” he explained.

Shogo Shodunnke highlighted that equipping managers with relevant knowledge and certifications would create a more productive sports ecosystem capable of generating employment opportunities, attracting investment and improving community development.

Reflecting on previous initiatives, Shodunnke highlighted the success of the “Beyond the Field” program held last year, which involved the Chief Scout of Chelsea Football Club, Seyi Olofinjana and a lecturer from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin. The program focused on strengthening communication between sports federations and associations, while introducing talent identification strategies involving the former Super Eagles midfielder.

He revealed that AMAPRO remains committed to continuous learning and innovation within the sports sector, with plans already underway for additional development programs later in the year despite preparations for the Amapro 2026 football championship scheduled to be held in July.

Shodunnke, however, expressed concern over the low participation of sports administrators and stakeholders in the event, urging them to take advantage of educational opportunities that can enhance its effectiveness and contribute to sports development in Kwara State.

“It is not encouraging for us to organize programs 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. However, we appreciate everyone who attended and supported the program,” he said.

He reiterated that the webinar serves only as a foundation for participants and encouraged them to pursue professional certification courses through PMI Nigeria while maintaining active collaboration with AMAPRO.

“This is just a foundational class. Participants should 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 leading specialists including Anthony Dele Daniel, Adekemi Oyewusi, Aransionla Goodluck and Sikemi Yomi Adeyanju who shared insights on leadership, project management and sustainable sports development.

The event forms part of AMAPRO’s broader vision to build an informed and professionally driven sports ecosystem capable of transforming lives, creating opportunities and promoting sports development across Kwara State and Nigeria.