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Ikorodu City FC president Sanmi Doherty says Nigeria’s football reforms will only succeed if clubs are allowed to invest in academies before being saddled with unsustainable wage demands.
Sanmi Doherty, has weighed in on the debate over the NPFL’s reform agenda, calling for a development-focused approach rather than pushing clubs into heavy financial obligations they cannot afford.
Doherty’s comments come after the director general of the National Sports Commission, the Hon. Bukola Olopade, has confirmed that the 2026/2027 NPFL season will begin with or without full compliance with the Commission’s new club licensing requirements.
While acknowledging the need for reform, Doherty argued that the future of Nigerian football cannot be built on the high salaries of players alone.
Speaking on the direction of Nigerian football, President Ikorodu City said real growth will come from the bottom.
“If I have my way, I want to invest more in my academics and development programmes. I want to start from primary schools, secondary schools and even bring one or two University of Lagos players into the league,” he said.
He warned against putting students in a position where football money derails education.
“Should I pay a 300-level student a ₦2 million stipend? It’s not possible. I will destroy their education with this. We are telling them to stay in school and continue playing sports.”
Doherty warned that pursuing quick results without building facilities will damage the championship in the long term.
“If we ignore development and focus more on promotion, we expect to fail in the future. The future of football, or any sport in Nigeria, is to develop our structures and encourage development programmes.”
He pointed to Germany as a model, where government support through grants, tax breaks and financing has helped both elite and grassroots sports thrive.
“The German government provides financial support, tax breaks and subsidies for both elite and grassroots sports. To whom much is given, much is expected.”
The Ikorodu town chief also urged politicians to adapt the reforms to the realities of Nigeria. In his opinion, imposing high wages before clubs have stable academies puts the cart before the horse.
“We are not talking about why clubs should have their own academies and develop future talent. Instead, the emphasis is on paying ₦2 million for a player. If clubs invest so much in players, where will the money to develop academies come from? We need to do the right things first if we want the right results.”
Doherty’s intervention adds a new layer to the ongoing debate about the NPFL’s reform drive, the balance between raising professional standards and ensuring long-term sustainability.
