The true beauty and nature of the people of Nigeria are better expressed in sports than in any other area of human endeavor . To think of Nigeria as a sporting country gives you a true perspective of a people with great nature of sportmanship, perservance and rare avenue for unity of purpose.
Sports like most other indusries in Nigeria has progressed very slowly...marred by impurities arising from government interferences and violence destruction of lives and properties in many part of the country. Yet, remains one vital tool that can be deployed to re-orientate, to rebrand and to re-build a sense of patriotism in this largest black nation of the world.
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1. Rebranding Nigeria:
Sports is one area that keep bringing positive vibes about the country. Though, not as expected if the structures and systems are working so well. For instance, Super Eagles, Nigerian men national team has become a global brand to be reckoned with.
Nigeria Golden eaglets has dominated the U16 Fifa World cup, winning it five times and back to back in 2013 and 2015. Nigeria Olympic dream team has won gold, silver and bronze respectively. All cader of Nigeria Women national teams have dorminated Africa and competing at the world level now. The international community see Nigeria as a great footballing nation; with the kind of global support we saw in Russia 2018 World Cup.
2. The Nigerian Spirit:
Nigerian paraolympians has severally displayed the "never say die" nature of a typical Nigerians. The powerlifters, wrestlers...has won several gold, silver and bronze. Usually, without adequate preparation and funds, these athletes has taken the bull by the horn.
Recently, we have watched the Tigerress, Nigeria women basketball national team, qualify for the quarter finals of FIBA World cup, even when they didn't even prepare and the Nigeria Basketball Association (NBA) were in disarray. That's the Nigerian spirit, never to give up, and to persevere through thick and thin.
3. Unity in Diversity
A country largely divergent in so many ways...in tribe and tongues, in class and religion, have never found oneness of purpose in anything but in sports. When Nigeria national team plays, only then you could find a Christian and a Muslim sitting together; an Hausa and Igbo man drinking together, both rooting and wanting their national team to win at all cost.
Well then, if sports are all these to us, portraying our people and country in a positive light, making us globally competitive with a sense of sportsmanship in all our dealings with one another. If sports delivers Hope, Love and oneness of purpose to us, then the government, corporate brands and people of Nigeria should take Sports more seriously!
