‘Business of sports’ tops agenda at NSSM 2019 conference

The Nigeria Society for Sports Management (NSSM) has announced that the 2019 edition of its national conference will focus on the “business of sports”.

The conference is expected to hold from June 25 to June 28 at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.

A statement issued on Wednesday said the annual conference will have as it’s theme: “Re-engineering sports for economic empowerment and sustainability through global business practices in Nigeria.”

Alhassan Yakmut, secretary, board of civil defence, fire, immigration and prison services at the ministry of interior, will deliver the keynote address.

Yakmut, who is a former director at the ministry of youth and sports, will give an overview of “how the business aspect of sports can be explored in the best interest of the sector”.

Sub-topics to be addressed include: “Developing premium brands in sports organisations in Nigeria”, “policy adjustment and sports organisations’ performance in Nigeria”, “re-directing paralympic sports for economic empowerment of athletes in Nigeria,” and “security and crowd management for effective sports business”.

Simon Ebhojiaye, deputy director, school sports division at the sports ministry, and Gboyega Okegbenro, chief executive officer of Pitchtree Communications Limited, will also be the lead paper presenters at the four-day event.

Olanrewaju Fagbohun, LASU vice chancellor will be the chief host while Yemi Akinkuotu and Oluwole Akeredolu, professors at the university, will be co-hosts.

Commenting on the conference, Muhammed Gambari, NSSM president and provost of the College of Education at Kwara State University, said arrangement has been concluded for a hitch-free conference.

“We are leaving nothing to chance in our effort to ensure that we make this conference memorable for participants and guests,” he said.

“Participants expected at the conference, include professors in physical education, health education, recreation, sports and dance in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as states’ sports directors, secretaries, coaches and physical and health education teachers in the public and private secondary schools across Nigeria.”