MEDIA
Segun Odegbami: Nigeria’s all-time best number 7 lands on 7th decade milestone
GBOYEGA OKEGBENRO
This day, August 27th, exactly 70 years ago in 1952, a star was born into the family of late Pa Jacob Adebola and Madam Bintu Abeke Odegbami, the former, a retired Nigerian Railway worker; and the latter, a successful and very popular trader.
They both hailed from Wasinmi Community in Ogun State and long settled in Jos, Plateau State, where they lived into their advanced years.
That little star is Nigeria’s sports icon, serial entrepreneur, master storyteller, great writer, broadcaster, educationist, author, actor, publisher, sports administrator per excellence, Chief Patrick Olusegun Odegbami, (MON).
Turning 70 in Nigeria of today is clearly big deal. The reasons are obvious. But ask any close watcher of the celebrant’s daily work ethic, cerebral endeavours and athleticism.
One of the most popular Nigerians of his generation, Big Seg came into everything desirable quite early in life…….fame, money, travels, cars, houses and the good life. By stroke of divine luck, he had successfully managed the highs and lows and is in good health; in company of his loving wife, children and can happily look back and thank God.
Big Seg is a quintessential gentleman; extremely charity-driven, easy going though fun-loving; ever courteous, highly detribalized, humorous; friendly, God-fearing and a master on the dance floor.
Nigeria owes this man a deserved acknowledgement and celebration on a day like this given his contributions to national development via his three areas of passion, namely sports, education and youth development/entrepreneurship.
Though he came into prominence in the late 60s through football, starring as a member of the all-conquering Western State Academicals, then onto NTC FC, WNTV/WNBS FC, Housing of Ibadan FC; it was when he joined the popular Shooting Stars of Ibadan from 1970 to 1984 that he shot into true stardom and attracted national attention; earning instant call up to the senior national team as a 22-year-old in 1974.
He however did not play for the national team until 1976, making his debut against Sierra Leone and going on to establish himself as the poster boy of the team until October 30, 1981 when he made his last appearance in a 2-1 home loss to Algeria.
To be sure, he was still at his football best but had to consider early retirement owing to a recurring knee injury that defied huge investments in treatment at home and abroad; halting his glittering career and leaving him to pursue even more expository, technical and creative endeavours within and outside sports, which had kept his name and image not only relevant, but soaring till date.
Big Seg’s ability to switch, interplay and multi-task in different extreme roles, requiring completely unrelated skillsets, to my mind, have been his defining strength over the years.
At different times since leaving active football, he has been a newspaper columnist, writer, publisher, television producer, sports school proprietor, actor, track and field athlete manager, football administrator, national team manager and much more… making a success of all.
It is on record that this great man conceptualized and created Nigeria’s first wholly private sports show on television, SATURDAY SPORTS SPECIAL, in the early nineties.
A man of many novelties, Big Seg did not only give Nigerian sports fans quality entertainment on this show, but also delivered an unforgettable legacy by his ingenuity in featuring two little but very sharp boys , Wole Opatola and Shina Okeleji, then in their early teens, as co-presenters.
To his eternal credit, the two youngsters are now very accomplished sports journalists holding their own in the industry. Wole runs a successful sports publishing and radio /tv production business in Benin while Shina is a leading producer at BBC World Service.
Though he has extended his creative abilities into other areas outside sports, especially education and entrepreneurship in the last 30 years, Big Seg however kept digging further and deeper into more creative endeavours in sport.
In 2003, he founded Nigeria’s first multi-sports secondary school, Segun Odegbami International College & Sports Academy in Wasinmi, Ogun State. Indeed, Odegbami could be rightly described as “creatively restless”.
He possesses an uncommon capacity for thinking up one brilliant idea after the other. Those close to him will confirm how boundlessly creative he is.
Big Seg has had his good and bad experiences especially in Sports Administration but he is unfazed about it. At different times in the last 25 years, he aspired to be President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He also toyed with the idea of a joint World Cup hosting involving four West African countries, Togo, Republic of Benin and Ghana, led by Nigeria. Just as he also at a time took a shot at the FIFA Presidency.
Often, he never seeks your concurrence or endorsement no matter how close. He just to puts you in the know and have you understand his motivations, objectives and convictions.
This year alone, he has launched into many innovative and audacious projects, including the highly successful CONVERSATIONS initiative; which is leveraging on his interesting relationship with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA); an idea that seeks to position Sport in its right place as a tool of international relations and diplomacy.
His latest baby, Eagle 7 Sports Radio is also on full throttle, blasting quality programs through the airwaves from its Panseke, Abeokuta base to the entire South West and neighbouring cities.
At 70, it’s clearly not slow-down time for my friend and confidant…the one and only Mathematical!
*Okegbenro, a sports and communications consultant writes in from Lagos
By Christian Emeruwa
For sports to truly develop in Nigeria, we need active, courageous, professional and unbiased sports journalists who can ask difficult questions and hold administrators accountable.
But the painful reality today is that many sports journalists in Nigeria are poorly paid, poorly protected and economically vulnerable. A journalist who cannot survive independently will eventually struggle to remain completely independent. This is not because many of them lack principles, but because survival itself has become a daily battle.
Over the years, I have seen passionate and dedicated sports journalists pushed to the brink of compromise simply due to economic hardship. Some of the finest minds in sports reportage today suffer in silence. At the same time, a few administrators have mastered the art of building personal media teams from the same journalists who should ordinarily question them objectively.
The result is what we see today:
– coordinated attacks on critics,
– blind defence of administrators,
– destruction of opposing opinions,
– and growing division within sports media spaces.
This raises serious questions:
What is being done by sports journalists themselves to improve their welfare and independence? What role is SWAN playing in protecting the dignity, welfare and professional future of sports journalists in Nigeria?
What structures exist to support young and upcoming sports reporters who genuinely want to practice ethical journalism without becoming tools in political or administrative battles?
If nothing drastic is done to improve the welfare, training, independence and protection of sports journalists, then we should honestly stop expecting journalists to consistently hold sports administrators accountable. Independence is difficult when survival depends on the very people you are expected to question.
Sports journalism is too important to Nigerian sports development to be left in this condition. Strong sports administration needs strong sports journalism. The two must challenge each other professionally for the system to grow.
This is not an attack on anyone. It is a sincere call for reflection and reform. The future of Nigerian sports reportage depends on the decisions we make today.
Dr Christian Emeruwa is the current head and founder of CAF Safety & Security, a FIFA Senior Safety & Security Officer, a Sport Administrator, a Lecturer and Consultant.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has congratulated sports journalist and club administrator Godwin Enakhena following the promotion of Sporting Lagos to the top-flight Nigeria Premier Football League.
In a letter jointly signed by its leadership, SWAN praised Enakhena’s role in guiding the club from the Nigeria National League to the NPFL, describing the achievement as a reflection of “visionary leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment” to the growth of football in Nigeria.
The association noted that the club’s rise to the elite division underscores the discipline, resilience, and collective effort of the management, coaching crew, and players under Enakhena’s stewardship. It added that the feat should serve as a springboard for further success in the country’s top division.
SWAN also commended the Sporting Lagos chairman for promoting professionalism and contributing to raising standards within Nigerian club football, expressing confidence that the club would make a positive impact in the NPFL.
In the message, SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin, along with the wider sporting media community, wished Enakhena continued wisdom, strength, and success as Sporting Lagos prepares for life in the top flight.
The letter was signed by SWAN General Secretary Ikenna Okonkwo.
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Rapids Sports & Entertainment, DMPartners and Metis Craton have jointly unveiled the maiden edition of the Nigeria Sports Industry Outlook, a landmark report designed to provide a comprehensive review of the sector and map out expectations for the future.
The annual publication, the first of its kind in the country, captures insights from key stakeholders across the sports ecosystem, offering a structured assessment of the past year alongside projections for the year ahead.
A Growing Global Industry with Local Potential
The release of the report comes against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding global sports economy. According to the World Economic Forum, the sector is currently valued at $2.3 trillion, contributing nearly 2 per cent of global GDP, with projections indicating growth of more than 50 per cent over the next decade.
For Nigeria, the stakes are even higher. With over 70 per cent of its population under the age of 35, sports is increasingly seen as a powerful economic and social driver, capable of generating employment, investment, and innovation.
A ‘Defining Document’ for Stakeholders
Co-curator Tonte Davies described the 2026 edition as a pivotal resource for the sector.
“The Nigeria Sports Industry Outlook Report is a defining document for the sports sector. It provides a clear lens into the future of sports in Nigeria, highlighting investment opportunities, addressing structural challenges, and reinforcing the urgent need to position sports as a sustainable business,” he said.
Davies added that the report, which has already generated significant interest among stakeholders, is accessible via the official LinkedIn pages of the three co-producers.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Another co-curator, Adedamilola Adedotun, emphasised the need to close the information gap within the Nigerian sports industry.
“We are very bullish about the potential of sports in Nigeria. But while we recognise its possible social and economic contribution, we also acknowledge the knowledge gap within the industry. This Outlook provides critical information about various sectors, stakeholders, and their projections for the future,” he noted.
Five Pillars of Industry Growth
The report is structured around five key pillars considered essential to the long-term development of the sports industry:
- Governance, Policy and Regulations
- Sporting Events
- Partnerships and Investments
- Licensing, Intellectual Property and Merchandising
- Sports Infrastructure
According to co-curator Telema Davies, these pillars reflect global best practices.
“Governance and policy provide direction, partnerships and investments fund development, events drive product visibility, infrastructure forms the foundation, and licensing and intellectual property protect commercial value,” she explained.
A Strategic Tool for Decision-Makers
The Nigeria Sports Industry Outlook 2026 is positioned as a strategic intelligence and reference document for investors, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to identify opportunities across the sports value chain.
Beyond analysis, the report serves as a call to action, urging stakeholders to harness Nigeria’s demographic advantage and align sports with broader economic development goals.
As the country continues to explore new growth sectors, the report underscores a clear message: sports is no longer just entertainment; it is serious business.
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