Nigerian singer and activist Seun Kuti has openly criticized the Nigerian government for its failure to adequately invest in sports, following the country’s underwhelming performance at the 2024 Olympics.
In a candid video shared on his Instagram account, Kuti highlighted the limited scope of Nigeria’s participation in the games, emphasizing that the nation only competed in sports requiring minimal financial investment.
Reflecting on the Olympics, Kuti remarked, “I dey watch Olympic games; look at how poorly we performed. How many sports are we competing in? I saw that it was only sports that did not need investment that Nigerians participated in, like, It was the sports that needed minimum investment that we did.”
He went on to explain that Nigerian athletes predominantly took part in track and field events, which he described as low-cost and easy to engage in. “You know, to play football, you need a post and net and other things are added, in some places, boys would use slippers to create a goalpost. But in sports that need things like rackets, nets, basketball courts and rims, where you can’t easily improvise, we weren’t there. We competed in track and field events because it’s easy to do running. But in sports that need equipment, we are never there,” Kuti asserted.
Kuti’s comments resonate with growing concerns about the lack of support and resources provided to Nigerian athletes, which many believe is a significant factor in the country’s declining performance on the global stage.
His critique adds to the ongoing debate about the need for greater investment in sports infrastructure and development in Nigeria, particularly for disciplines that require more than just basic equipment.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
