NEITI urges NFF to prioritize local coaches for Super Eagles: “A Call for national development”
The executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, has cautioned the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against pursuing foreign coaches for the Super Eagles.
Dr. Orji’s remarks come amid ongoing public debates concerning the hiring of a foreign or local coach to capitalize on the Super Eagles’ successes at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
In an interview, Dr. Orji emphasized NEITI’s appreciation for the contributions of foreign coaches to Nigeria’s sports development. However, he highlighted the adverse effects of continued reliance on foreign expertise, citing it as a significant source of capital flight and an avoidable drain on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.
“The mentality and dependence on foreign [coaches] is akin to what led Nigeria to oil dependency and a growing appetite for foreign goods,” Dr. Orji asserted. He underscored the need to reassess the economic impact of hiring foreign coaches, urging the NFF to prioritize local talent.
The Super Eagles, currently without a substantive coach since Jose Peseiro’s contract expired in February, are being guided by interim coach, Finidi George. Dr. Orji stressed the importance of this transition period to give local coaches an opportunity to showcase their capabilities.
“We should set an example by giving the right of first refusal to local coaches who emerge through international competitive bids,” Dr. Orji suggested. He emphasized the importance of support and exposure to high-level training for local coaches.
Dr. Orji appealed to Nigeria’s sports authorities to implement deliberate measures aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on foreign experts. He expressed NEITI’s readiness to collaborate with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to initiate a national debate on the issue.
Highlighting the significance of sports in national development, Dr. Orji underscored its role in employment generation, revenue generation, poverty reduction, and national unity. He emphasized the need to prioritize local expertise, citing the interconnectedness between sports and extractive industries.
“Sports affects all known human development, including extractive industries, where the bulk of the money found in sports activities are derived from in Nigeria,” Dr. Orji concluded.
