NICHOLAS UWERUNONYE
Ilorin — Engr. Femi Sanni (Araba), chairman of Stëfolga/Flow FM, has underscored his long-standing commitment to sports development, describing it as both a personal passion and a strategic avenue for youth empowerment.
In a rare personal disclosure, Araba traced his love for sports to his family heritage. “My father managed the defunct Tate and Lyle FC, a club that produced legends like Moses Otolorin,” he told executives of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kwara State Chapter, and senior journalists at his Tanke office on Tuesday.
“As a child, I participated in long jump, high jump, and soccer. Those formative years shaped my commitment to nurturing sporting talent.”
Araba highlighted that beyond personal interest, sports represents one of the most effective and cost-efficient platforms to develop human capital. “Investing in sports is investing in the youth and future leaders of our society,” he said. He noted that his companies have consistently integrated sports into their corporate social responsibility programs, reflecting a philosophy that aligns business success with societal impact.
The media visit coincided with the presentation of a formal letter of appreciation to Araba by SWAN, recognizing his role in upgrading the association’s secretariat at George Agbazika Innih Stadium, Ilorin.
Further cementing his profile as a leading social impact investor, Araba was recently nominated for the prestigious Daily Independent Jubilee Anniversary Award in the Social Impact Investment category. He joins global figures such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, DG of the World Trade Organization, Tony Elumelu of Heirs Holdings, and veteran financier Atedo Peterside on the nominee list.
Araba said his support for sports is motivated not only by heritage but also by a desire to create sustainable opportunities for young Nigerians. “Sports can transform lives, communities, and the economy if we invest in it strategically,” he stated.
His efforts, experts say, reflect a growing recognition of sports as a viable economic and social development tool—a space where Nigeria, despite its untapped potential, can gain competitive advantage in Africa’s emerging sports economy.
