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FLAM 2025 Advocates Deeper Legal Education to Strengthen Football Governance
…Adekunle Ajasin University Defeats UNILAG to Win Abuja Moot
Joel Ajayi
The 2025 Football Law Annual Moot (FLAM) has amplified calls for greater investment in legal education within the football ecosystem, particularly among clubs, managers, and academy owners. The event brought together leading sports lawyers from around the world to examine the legal challenges facing the industry, with a special focus on contractual stability in football.
Organised by legal practitioner Pius C. Ndubuokwu, the conference—held under the theme “The Role of International Arbitral Tribunals in Maintaining Contractual Stability in Football”—placed a spotlight on the contractual vulnerabilities experienced by Nigerian players abroad.
Speaking at the conference, Ndubuokwu revealed staggering statistics on player transfers and rights abuses.
“In the last 10 years, Nigeria has transferred about 17,200 players abroad. Of these, more than 30% have faced contractual violations. Shockingly, up to 80–90% of them are unaware their contracts were breached,” he said.
He stressed that FLAM 2025 serves as a foundation for educating players on their rights, noting that poor legal awareness affects not just athletes but the entire football economy.
“When players cannot protect their rights, it affects everyone—clubs, lawyers, agents. This programme addresses the core of contractual stability because contracts are the foundation of football. Clubs and academies invest heavily in scouting but often neglect the legal structures that are just as critical,” he added.
Ricardo de Buen, a long-standing arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with over three decades of experience in labour and sports law, reinforced Ndubuokwu’s concerns.
He noted that many footballers lack knowledge of their rights and have limited access to legal support in their home countries.
“Events like this will improve the capacity of local lawyers, enabling them to better support athletes and even clubs involved in international disputes. Strengthening legal defence for players will ultimately benefit the entire sector,” he said.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Football Law Annual Moot featured 44 universities from seven countries, progressing through three rigorous phases: a written brief competition, virtual oral rounds, and the grand finale.
In a repeat of last year’s outcome, Adekunle Ajasin University and the University of Lagos—who met in the 2024 semi-finals—once again emerged as the top two teams in the 2025 edition.
Both teams impressed the panel of arbitrators led by Georgi Gradev with their delivery, articulation, and command of sports law. Adekunle Ajasin University clinched the championship, earning a $1,500 cash prize, while the University of Lagos finished as runners-up with $1,000.
The 2025 edition of FLAM underscored the pressing need for systemic reforms in football administration, starting with stronger legal frameworks and improved education for players, clubs, and practitioners across the continent.
News
FG Targets 50,000 Youths for Digital Jobs, Deepens Partnerships for Nationwide Empowerment Drive
Joel Ajayi
Federal Government has intensified efforts to empower young Nigerians through strategic partnerships, digital skills development, and inclusive programmes aimed at creating sustainable employment opportunities nationwide.
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made this known during a media interview with African Independent Television (AIT), where he outlined a renewed policy direction focused on measurable impact, transparency, and large-scale youth engagement.
At the core of this effort, he explained, is a landmark partnership with the Digital School (TDS), supported by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, targeting the training of 50,000 Nigerian youths in globally competitive digital skills.
The Minister noted that the initiative is expected to produce at least 5,000 internationally certified and job-ready youths within the first six months of implementation.
Comrade Olawande also highlighted the Ministry’s sector-specific collaborations, including its partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), aimed at boosting youth participation in agriculture. He added that this is being complemented by expanded programmes under the Nigerian Youth Academy and other key youth empowerment initiatives.
He further disclosed that the government is scaling up internship, gig economy, and startup support programmes to reach a wider range of beneficiaries across the country, while also intensifying efforts to promote digital literacy through The Digital School (TDS) initiative, being implemented in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
To enhance transparency and ensure merit-based access to opportunities, the Ministry has introduced a digital engagement platform, “Nigerian New Tech.” He added that ongoing reforms in youth health, financial inclusion, and social protection are also broadening opportunities for young Nigerians.
During the interview, the Honourable Minister said:“We are moving away from fragmented and tokenistic approaches to youth development. Our focus is to build sustainable systems that empower young Nigerians at scale and with real impact.”
“Through our partnership with The Digital School and the UAE Government, we are not just training youths; we are preparing them for global opportunities, whether they choose to work remotely or internationally.”
“For too long, many young Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector, have been excluded from structured opportunities. This administration is committed to ensuring that no young person is left behind.”
“Our role as government is to create an enabling environment where young people can thrive, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
“Transparency and merit are at the core of all our programmes. Access to opportunities should not depend on who you know, but on your capacity and readiness to grow.”
The Honourable Minister reaffirmed that youth development remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth, assuring that the Ministry will continue to deepen partnerships, expand programmes, and implement sustainable frameworks for the benefit of present and future generations.
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