March 28, 2024

A Barrister-at-law, a sports arbitrator and football solicitor, Dr Emmanuel Oluwafemi Olowononi, has canvassed for specialization in sports law practice in Nigeria as well as the inclusion of sports law as undergraduate course in Faculties of Law in Nigerian universities.

Olowononi, a senior lecturer at the Nigeria Law School, Bwari, Abuja, stated this during a paper he delivered at the National Convention of Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) titled ‘Exploring The New Frontiers In The Legal Profession’ which was held at the Nigeria Bar Association Secretariat, Port Harcourt.

He called on National Institute for Sports (NIS) to raise the bar in sports arbitration, administration, governance, sports economy and sports taxation in Nigeria.

Speaking on recent development and emerging fields with focus on law, technology and globalization, Olowononi said sports and entertainment are intertwined, and as an industry, is a big business which accounts for more than five percent of world trade while adding that in Europe, over five million football-related jobs direct or indirectly have been created.

“The world as at today is one global village, interdependent, borderless and fluid in interaction and Nigeria must not be left behind. Sports is a very big business which must be taking serious. We must do everything necessary to make it work as we can see in Europe. I want to canvass for specialization of sports law practice in Nigeria as well as the inclusion of sports law as undergraduate course in Faculties of Law in Nigerian universities.

“Sports and entertainment are intertwined and as an industry, it is a big business which accounts for more than five percent of world trade and in Europe, over five million football-related jobs direct or indirectly have been created,” he told Tribune Sports.

He said sports will get it pride of place in Nigeria when stakeholders come together by researching, drafting, writing and brainstorming for ideas. The founder, Institute for Capacity Building, Entertainment and Sports Law Development (ICESLAD) also called on lawyers to take professional examinations in sports, taxation and others so as to be in tune with sports globally and explore the other sides of their profession.

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