36 Lion School Awards Scholarships to 14 Students, 36 Coaches

In another bold step toward youth empowerment and football development, Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, has awarded full scholarships to 14 students and 36 coaches through the 36 Lion Coaching School.

The initiative, now an annual feature, supports students participating in the National Institute for Sports (NIS) Coaches Course. This year’s recipients include five female and nine male students drawn from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in alignment with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision to use sports as a tool for social reengineering.

The five female beneficiaries hail from institutions including the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology. The male recipients represent a similar cross-section of educational backgrounds, reflecting a diverse but unified pool of aspiring sports professionals.

The 36 additional coaching scholarships further expand the programme’s reach, building capacity in grassroots football while reinforcing the importance of education and training in Nigeria’s football ecosystem.

Editorial

In a country brimming with footballing potential, initiatives like this are not just welcome—they are necessary. Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed’s scholarship programme speaks directly to the foundational issues in Nigerian football education, accessibility, and professional development.

Too often, the focus is solely on talent—raw, uncut, and often unsupported. But football, especially at developmental stages, needs more than gifted players. It needs educated coaches, structured systems, and individuals who understand both the science and the spirit of the sport.

What’s particularly commendable here is the inclusion of female students. Football has long been male-dominated in Nigeria, but empowering women at the institutional and technical levels sends a clear message this game is for everyone, and the future will be shaped by those who have both the knowledge and the drive.

This isn’t just charity it’s strategy. By investing in the next generation of coaches and administrators, this initiative ensures Nigerian football has the technical backbone required for sustainable success. It’s a model that deserves not only replication across the country but institutional support to expand further.

Football development isn’t a game of luck. It’s a result of deliberate, consistent effort. And this, right here, is what effort looks like.

Did You Know?

1. The National Institute for Sports (NIS) is Nigeria’s premier institution for training sports professionals and was established in 1974.
2. Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed is also the founder of 36 Lion FC, a Lagos-based football club renowned for developing young talent.
3. Lagos State University (LASU), from which many recipients hail, has produced several professional footballers and sports administrators.
4. The 36 Lion scholarship scheme has previously helped produce graduates who now coach professionally across Nigeria’s top leagues.
5. The scholarship also includes technical and tactical training modules to prepare coaches for both domestic and international certification pathways.