The inaugural edition of Lagos Business School’s sports-oriented training, Sports Business Management Programme came to a successful close on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
The Sports Business Management Programme (SBMP) is an offshoot of a collaboration between Lagos Business School (LBS) and Spanish league, La Liga to promote capacity development in Nigeria’s sports sector through research and training in the management and administration of sports business.
The 2-day programme witnessed a convergence of sports entrepreneurs, sports media practitioners, staff of sports agencies and parastatals, and enthusiasts who are interested in growing businesses in the sector. Participants gained knowledge on how to professionalise and promote sports business in Nigeria through classroom lectures, case study sessions, and panel sessions.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between LBS and La Liga Business School, Dr Uchenna Uzo, Academic Director of the programme said, “A lot of Nigerians are very passionate about sports but the business aspect of it has been neglected, so the SBMP is a first of its kind programme that will benefit players in the sports space by helping them understand the nuances of doing business in the sector”.
The programme was facilitated by a select group of local and international experts and opinion leaders in the sports industry including LBS faculty, Henry Onukwuba; Head of La Liga Business School, Jose Moya; Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Tandoh; veteran sports journalist, Deji Omotoyinbo, among others.
Speaking at the programme, Omotoyinbo whose experience in sports journalism dates over 20 years said, “In this part of the world, we have a lot of passion for an emotional attachment to sports but we have not mastered the business aspect. The SBMP bridges the gap in the industry by professionalising the running of sports. Sports can be rewarding for Nigerians, it just has to be done better”.
Praising LBS and La Liga for initiating the programme, a participant, Joachim Macebong said, “This is one of the best things I have done with my year. The SBMP was a great one because it gave me a good overview of the various aspects of sports business and the issues surrounding them. LBS brought together industry experts who let us in on how they build sports brands, the challenges, and solutions. The input from La Liga Business School was equally important as they were able to show us how they managed to make their league and clubs more financially viable”.
Participants were presented with certificates as LBS and La Liga promised to develop more programmes that will benefit sports practitioners in Nigeria.
The 2-day programme witnessed a convergence of sports entrepreneurs, sports media practitioners, staff of sports agencies and parastatals, and enthusiasts who are interested in growing businesses in the sector.
