Senator Ned Nwoko has announced the opening of admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session of the Sports University of Nigeria, saying the institution was established not merely to produce athletes but to build educated professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs around the sports industry.
Nwoko, the founder and chancellor of the university, said his vision is to create a system where young Nigerians no longer have to choose between pursuing sporting excellence and obtaining quality education.
“I did not build the Sports University of Nigeria just to train athletes. I built it to build lives,” Nwoko said while announcing the commencement of admissions.
According to him, the institution was designed to combine sports development with formal education, allowing talented young Nigerians to develop their athletic abilities while preparing for sustainable careers beyond active competition.
The university offers opportunities for students interested in football, athletics, basketball, volleyball, sports science, coaching, sports management, and other sports-related disciplines.
Nwoko said Nigeria possesses enormous sporting talent but needs stronger structures to identify, educate, and develop young athletes into world-class professionals.
“My vision is bigger than producing champions on the field. I want to produce educated champions. I want to produce coaches and sports scientists. I want to produce sports administrators and entrepreneurs,” he said.
He added that the goal is to develop young Nigerians capable of competing internationally, both within sporting arenas and across the growing global sports economy.
Combining Talent With Education
The announcement highlights a long-standing challenge facing many young athletes in Nigeria: balancing intensive sporting development with formal education.
Nwoko argued that sporting talent alone is not enough to guarantee a successful future, stressing that education, discipline, and access to opportunities are equally important.
“The future of Nigerian sports will not be built by talent alone. It will be built by talent, education, discipline, and opportunity,” he said.
He also urged parents of talented young people to consider giving their children the opportunity to combine their sporting ambitions with academic and professional development.
Admissions into the Sports University of Nigeria for the 2026/2027 academic session are now open.
Prospective students can obtain further information and apply through www.sportsuniversity.edu.ng.
The university can also be contacted through [email protected] or [email protected], as well as through the telephone numbers +234 916 717 7777 and +234 916 706 6666.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Sports University of Nigeria’s 2026/2027 admissions signal a shift in how the country approaches sports development.
The key takeaway is that the institution is designed to combine athletic training with formal education, so young Nigerians can pursue sporting excellence and build sustainable careers as coaches, sports scientists, administrators, or entrepreneurs, rather than having to choose one path over the other.
