NLO steps up administrative reforms, refereeing accountability, talent development – COO Ogunnowo

NLO steps up administrative reforms, refereeing accountability, talent development – COO Ogunnowo

The Nationwide League One (NLO) is intensifying efforts to raise the standards of football administration, improve discipline across its competitions, and strengthen Nigeria's talent development pipeline, according to the league's Chief Operating Officer, Olushola Ogunowo.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on the Sports World Platform, Ogunowo outlined the strategic initiatives driving the country's largest football league, which boasts nearly 400 participating clubs across Nigeria.

The interview, anchored by renowned sports broadcaster Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR) and co-hosted by sports journalist Afonne Chukwuemeka, focused on governance, officiating, and the future of grassroots football in Nigeria.

Building Better Football Administrators

Responding to a question from Ikenna Okonkwo, General Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), on measures being taken to curb misconduct among clubs and improve league management, Ogunowo stressed that education remains the NLO's strongest tool.

He explained that the league regularly organises training and retraining programmes for club administrators to improve professionalism and operational standards.

"The NLO continuously trains club administrators. While not every club official takes advantage of these programmes, those who participate have demonstrated remarkable improvement in the way they manage their clubs," Ogunowo stated.

To expose Nigerian football administrators to international best practices, the NLO has also organised study visits to the United Kingdom, where selected club chairmen interacted with established football institutions.

"We travelled with about 30 club chairmen to the United Kingdom to learn from successful football organisations. We repeated the initiative during the 2024/2025 season because we believe continuous learning is essential to the growth of our clubs," he added.

Refereeing: Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

Addressing growing concerns over the standard of officiating, Ogunowo clarified that although the NLO does not directly discipline referees, it maintains a firm stance against poor officiating.

According to him, every reported case of misconduct is formally referred to the Referees Appointment Committee and the Referees Department of the Nigeria Football Federation for investigation and disciplinary action.

"The NLO does not have direct authority over referees. Whenever there are issues involving match officials, we immediately report them to the appropriate authorities. Some referees have been sanctioned and stepped down after investigations," he explained.

Developing Nigeria's Next Generation of Stars

Another major focus of the discussion was the future of young football talents emerging from the NLO.

When asked how the league intends to ensure gifted players progress to higher levels rather than disappearing after their breakthrough seasons, Ogunowo reaffirmed the NLO's position as the foundation of Nigeria's football development structure.

He noted that the league continues to provide young players with competitive opportunities and visibility, allowing them to attract attention from professional clubs, scouts, and national team selectors.

With hundreds of clubs competing across the country, the NLO remains one of the most important platforms for identifying and nurturing future stars capable of representing Nigeria on the international stage.

Raising the Standard

Ogunowo's remarks reflect an organisation focused on continuous improvement through education, accountability, and strategic investment in human capacity.

As Nigerian football continues to seek higher standards of governance and competitiveness, the NLO's emphasis on administrative excellence, improved officiating oversight, and structured player development reinforces its growing importance as the country's foremost grassroots football league.