Sports

Olojo-Kosoko Extends Football Development Role to Electoral Leadership

Published

1 month ago

August 28, 2026

Olanrewaju Olojo-Kosoko is steadily expanding his influence in Nigerian football, with his work in coaching, youth development and academy management now extending into football administration and electoral governance.

The Lagos-based football coach and technical development specialist recently chaired the Electoral Committee of the Lagos State Football Coaches Association, overseeing the process that produced the association’s new executive leadership.

Olojo-Kosoko was appointed to lead the electoral committee after the Central Working Committee of the Lagos State Football Coaches Association constituted the body to conduct the 2026 state executive elections. Under his leadership, the committee screened and confirmed 13 aspirants and subsequently conducted the election process.

The process received commendation from key stakeholders in Lagos football, including Lagos State Football Association Chairman, Hajj Liameed Gafar; Mansur Abdullahi, who represented the President of the National Coaches Association, Ladan Bosso; and JTI Ifeoluwa, representing the South West.

The credibility attached to the process represents an important milestone in Olojo-Kosoko’s growing involvement in football administration, coming after years of hands-on experience in coaching, talent development and academy management.

Before taking on the electoral assignment, Olojo-Kosoko had built a career around grassroots football, youth development and academy management. His coaching journey has seen him work with several teams and institutions, including Police Machine in Akure, SOT Football Team of the Police College, Ikeja, COD United FC, St Finbarr’s College, Aje United FC and Phil FC.

One of the notable highlights of his coaching career came in 2017 when he was part of the St Finbarr’s College set-up that won the GTBank Masters Cup. St Finbarr’s defeated Anwar-Ul-Islam College 2–1 in the boys’ final at Onikan Stadium to claim the prestigious schools’ football competition.

The achievement remains a significant milestone in Olojo-Kosoko’s youth development career, highlighting his experience in preparing and leading young players in competitive football. His involvement with St Finbarr’s, where he served as Head Coach and Technical Consultant, formed an important part of a coaching career that has consistently combined player development with competitive success.

His role at COD United FC also saw him serve as Head of the Youth Academy and Under-21 team, further strengthening his experience in developing young footballers and managing youth structures.

He currently serves as Sporting Director with Seamoriow Football Club, a club he has been with since 2023 and he has also served in the capacity of Technical Consultant and Partner with Digital Scouting Africa.

These roles have placed him at different stages of the player-development pathway, from grassroots identification and coaching to academy management and technical consultancy.

Olojo-Kosoko holds an Advanced Certificate in Football Coaching from the National Institute for Sports and has continued to build his professional experience around modern coaching methodologies, youth-team management, talent identification and football development.

His involvement in the Lagos Coaches Association election therefore represents more than an isolated administrative assignment. It reflects the growing responsibilities entrusted to a football professional whose career has largely been built around developing players and strengthening football structures at the grassroots level.

Following the successful conduct of the state election, Olojo-Kosoko has now been appointed to take charge of the electoral process for the various council-level elections of the Lagos State Football Coaches Association across Lagos State as well as across the country.

The new responsibility places him at the centre of another important phase in the association’s electoral process, requiring the same level of organisation, neutrality and credibility that characterised his handling of the state election.

For Olojo-Kosoko, the progression from coaching and academy management to football electoral administration is consistent with a career that has increasingly involved both the technical and structural sides of the game.

With about two decades of experience across coaching, youth development, academy management and technical consultancy, his latest responsibilities further establish him as one of the football development professionals contributing to the growth, organisation and governance of the game in Lagos.

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Celebrates Nigeria at 66, Assures of More Progressive Sports Development Under President Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

October 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Nigerians as the nation celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigeria’s resilience, unity and remarkable capacity to excel on the global stage, particularly through sports.

Hon. Olopade said Nigeria at 66 is an occasion every Nigerian should be proud of, noting that despite the challenges encountered over the years, the country has continued to make significant progress and produce achievements capable of inspiring generations.

The DG said the sports sector has particular reasons to celebrate, pointing to a series of performances and milestones by Nigerian athletes and teams across the global sporting landscape.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

Hon. Olopade said the progress being witnessed in Nigerian sports aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said is focused on creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes, while positioning sports as a tool for national development, youth empowerment and global recognition.

He pointed to Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the latest examples of the country’s sporting potential. Team Nigeria returned from Glasgow with 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing seventh overall and as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. The campaign also produced three world records and a number of historic milestones across para powerlifting, athletics, weightlifting, para athletics and judo.

Among the standout performances was that of Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won gold in para powerlifting and twice broke the world record during the competition, ultimately lifting 175kg. Goodness Nwachukwu also successfully defended her Commonwealth title in the women’s para discus and set a new world record, while Nigeria recorded historic Commonwealth gold medals through Samuel Ogazi in the men’s 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the men’s shot put.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” Hon. Olopade said.

He also celebrated the continued dominance of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, which in 2025 became the first nation to win five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan in the last edition. The achievement extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games and secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway.

On the global athletics scene, Hon. Olopade highlighted the continued excellence of Tobi Amusan and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sprinters. Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September 2026, clocking 12.34 seconds in the final, while Kayinsola Ajayi added another significant milestone by winning Commonwealth bronze in the men’s 100m and helping Nigeria to bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow.

Nigeria’s football heritage, Hon. Olopade noted, remains another major source of national pride. The country holds the record for the most FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, with five championships won by the Golden Eaglets in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

He also pointed to the country’s growing influence in emerging sports, including flag football. Nigeria made history by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship in Cairo in 2025, earning qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” the DG said.

“From our champions who continue to break world records to our young athletes who are announcing themselves on the international stage, the Nigerian flag continues to fly with pride around the world. This is why the development of sports must remain a national priority. Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions.”

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we celebrate Nigeria’s past, but we must also look confidently toward the future. Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” the DG added.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission, I wish all Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May our great nation continue to grow in strength, unity, prosperity and sporting excellence,” Hon. Olopade concluded.

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