Build The Foundation First' - Ikorodu City Boss Sanmi Doherty Urges NSC To Prioritise Youth Development Over Big Wages


President Ikorodu City FC Sanmi Doherty says Nigeria’s football reforms will only succeed if clubs are allowed to invest in academies before being burdened with unsustainable salary demands.


Sanmi Doherty, has waded into the debate over the NPFL reform agenda, calling for a development-first approach instead of pushing clubs toward heavy financial obligations they cannot sustain.

Doherty’s comments come after National Sports Commission Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, confirmed that the 2026/2027 NPFL season will kick off with or without full compliance to the Commission’s new club licensing requirements.

While acknowledging the need for reforms, Doherty argued that Nigeria’s football future cannot be built on high player wages alone.

Speaking on the direction of Nigerian football, the President Ikorodu City said the real growth will come from the grassroots.

“If I have my way, I want to invest more in my academy and developmental programmes. I want to start from primary schools, secondary schools, and even bring one or two players from the University of Lagos into the league,” he said.

He warned against placing students in a position where football money derails education.

“Should I be paying a 300-level student a ₦2 million salary? That’s not possible. I will destroy his education with that. We are telling them to stay in school and stay in sports.”

Doherty cautioned that chasing quick results without building structures will hurt the league in the long run.

“If we ignore development and focus more on promotion, then we are planning to fail in the future. The future of football, or any sport in Nigeria, is to develop our facilities and encourage developmental programmes.”

He pointed to Germany as a model, where government support through grants, tax breaks, and funding has helped both elite and grassroots sports thrive.

“The German government provides financial support, tax breaks and grants for both elite and grassroots sports. To whom much is given, much is expected.”

The Ikorodu City boss further urged policymakers to tailor reforms to Nigeria’s reality. According to him, mandating high wages before clubs have stable academies puts the cart before the horse.

“We’re not talking about why clubs should have their own academies and develop future talents. Instead, the emphasis is on paying ₦2 million for a player. If clubs invest so much in players, where will the money come from to develop academies? We have to do the right things first if we want the right results.”

Doherty’s intervention adds a new layer to the ongoing conversation around the NPFL’s reform push, the balance between raising professional standards and ensuring long-term sustainability.

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