The Sports Africa Investment Summit 2025 (SAIS2025) delivered two days of dynamic discussions, strategic deal-making, and investment-driven conversations aimed at accelerating the growth of African sports markets.

Held with the theme “Sports as a Catalyst for Africa Towards 2063,” the summit brought together top stakeholders from sports, business, and governance to explore innovative ways to fund and develop Africa’s sports industry.

Key Highlights from SAIS2025

1. Setting the Stage for Sports Investment

• Yahaya Maikori, Vice Chairman of Sport Nigeria, opened the summit with a welcome address, emphasizing the event’s importance in shaping the future of sports investments in Africa.
• Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sport Nigeria LTD/GTE, set the agenda for two days of impactful discussions and collaborations.
• Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, delivered a keynote speech, outlining how sports can serve as a catalyst for Africa’s development leading up to Agenda 2063.

2. High-Impact Discussions
SAIS2025 featured:

• Three plenary sessions focused on sports market creation, product development, and funding strategies.
• One fire-side chat, where experts discussed the future of African sports investments.
• 18 breakout sessions covering diverse topics, including:
  • Building a thriving sports goods and services market
  • Developing the right products for African sports
  • Securing sustainable funding for sports infrastructure

3. Major Announcements and Agreements

• A technical and collaborative agreement was signed between the Government of Abia State and Sport Nigeria LTD/GTE for the creation of the Abia State Sports Special Economic Zone (SSEZ). This initiative aims to boost sports-related investments and infrastructure in the region.
• Spaces For Sport (S4S), Sport Nigeria’s flagship community-based infrastructure project, was officially presented, emphasizing grassroots sports development.

4. Distinguished Speakers and Closing Remarks

• Goodwill messages were delivered by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Xavier Muron, Country Manager of Agence Française de Développement, and Christophe Bazivamo, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria.
• The summit concluded with remarks from Lanre Buluro, Managing Director, Investment Banking of Chapel Hill Denham, who represented CEO Lanre Balogun.

A New Era for African Sports Business

The Sports Africa Investment Summit 2025 successfully set the stage for long-term partnerships, funding opportunities, and infrastructure development, marking a transformative step for Africa’s sports industry.