In the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s X post restating his government’s support for Sports development and the sweeping policy reviews to ensure Athletes excel and Infrastructural development, a deep dive into the President’s elaborate pronouncement reveals yet again how we can’t see the forest for the trees.
The 500-worded post with its colorful pictogram acknowledged everything except Coaching.
It was neither recognized in the success story of 2025 nor a clear path for its advancement mentioned in the blueprint of establishing a vibrant Sports ecosystem.
In 2025, from individual champions in athletics and other sports, to our winning female football and basketball teams as well as the Super Eagles who despite their bronze medal at AFCON2025, captured our hearts, scores of athletes representing Nigeria made our nation proud.… pic.twitter.com/Kv7GEodPN6
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) February 6, 2026
While it doesn’t appear to be a deliberate omission, it however points to the limited knowledge and perhaps parochial view of Sports policy makers in Nigeria.
Needless to say, Coaches like teachers will be the unsung heroes, the after thought of any system that lacks the basic understanding of talent development.

It’s not the sports gears or grand stadiums and certainly not the high-tech sports equipment that guarantee any Athlete’s success, rather excellence is driven by advance research applied through technical and tactical guidance, while providing mindful mentorship.
We Undermine Coaches and Underrate Coaching

Understating the relevance of Coaching as President Tinubu’s post did unbeknownst, opting instead to gratify the NSC Chairman, who candidly may have played a most insignificant role in the 373 medals won is exactly how the now lethargic Coaching development system which directly and indirectly encouraged the “diaspora talent adoption program” that brought Nigeria success in the WAFCON, Women’s AfroBasket and AFCON, truly began.
Perhaps, President Tinubu will see the correlation in how government’s past failures to build a strong people-driven local economy, safe society, and our inability to basically provide life dignifying enough for Nigerians forced many Parents to seek greener pastures abroad – where ‘our’ kids benefitted from robust sports programs with Coaching at the heart of them.
While it can be applauded for effort or intent by those who have clamored for better and strategic funding in Sports, to stay ambiguous on certain matters including Coaching, Sports education etc. surely is a cause for concern and raises doubts about this onward march.
