| Communications, Media and Branding Department
Strategic Partnership: Prof. Afolarin Ojewole (3rd left) with (from l - r): Mr. Abiola Odetola, Adviser to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Mrs. Mojoyin Adebayo, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Digital Communications and e-Learning, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Chief Operating Officer of the Africa Table Tennis Federation and Consultant to NSEEP, Dr. Adesoji Tayo, President of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation and Dr. Joshua Suleiman, Chief of Staff to the Babcock President/Vice Chancellor
Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole (middle) with him are (from left - right): Mr. Abiola Odetola, Adviser to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Mrs. Mojoyin Adebayo, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Digital Communications and e-Learning, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Chief Operating Officer of the Africa Table Tennis Federation and Consultant to NSEEP and Dr. Adesoji Tayo, President of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation.
In a bold move to rebuild Nigeria’s sports ecosystem by merging high-performance athletics with quality education, the Federal Government has named Babcock University as the only private institution among four tertiary schools selected to pilot the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (NSEEP). Conceived by the Minister of Education and the National Sports Commission, the initiative launching November 2026 will give athletes dual-career pathways, graduating as both competitors and professionals with sustainable careers.
Leading a four-man delegation during a courtesy visit to Babcock University, Mrs. Mojoyin Adebayo, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Digital Communications and e-Learning, explained: “We want to rebuild the sports ecosystem. What happens after you get an injury? You can’t compete anymore. Now we’re saying even if you have an injury, you can still have a job. There is a career for you.”
According to Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Chief Operating Officer of the Africa Table Tennis Federation and Consultant to NSEEP, Babcock’s unique contribution made it a top choice when among others, it hosted a contingent of youths for the Table Tennis championships which prepared the teams to win medals: “The university distinguished itself by approving its facilities for athlete accommodation and feeding — something that had never been done before.”
In his submission, Mr. Abiola Odetola, Adviser to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, emphasized that the partnership will create scholarship pathways for elite athletes who represent Nigeria, reducing inequality and stemming athlete migration, adding: “About 90% of athletes do not make it to the top and have short career spans. The skills and education they get from an environment like this will be their retirement plan.”
In response, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, President/Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, reaffirmed: “The new Nigeria we all want has a partner in Babcock University, and on behalf of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees, we say yes to the partnership.”
This recognition not only underscores a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s sports and education journey, with Babcock University leading in integrating academics and athletics, it also acknowledges its leadership in sustainable youth development, quality education and well-being.
In 2025, Babcock hosted the 8th Nigeria Private University Games Association (NPUGA), a 10-day multi-sport event featuring over 30 private universities nationwide. The same year, it served as the Games Village for the 22nd National Sports Festival “Gateway 2025,” accommodating thousands of athletes and officials — a milestone that showcased its capacity to support national sporting excellence.