SPAN Tasks National Sports Commission On Proper Funding Of Research

The Sports Psychologists Association of Nigeria (SPAN) has tasked the National Sports Commission (NSC) to provide dedicated funding for multidisciplinary research on resilience, stress management and mental health in sports.

SPAN, in a communique issued at the end of its 38th annual conference held at the University of Ibadan, declared that coaches, sports psychologists and administrators must be trained to identify, nurture and strengthen resilience among athletes at all levels of participation.

In the communique signed by its president, Professor Olufemi Adegbesan and the secretary, Dr Adesola Afuye, the association maintained that grassroots and school sports programmes should embed resilience education to prepare young athletes for long-term success and holistic development.

The conference, which had “Psychological Resilience for Sustainable Sports Development in the 21st Century and Beyond” as its theme, was attended by scholars, coaches, athletes, policymakers and stakeholders in sports and education.

The conference featured a stimulating blend of keynote addresses, lead paper presentations, panel discussions and technical sessions which provided insights into the role of psychological resilience in contemporary sports.

Delivering the keynote address, a professor of Social Work at the Lead City University, Ibadan, Professor Jane Adebusuyi, emphasised the importance of resilience as a foundation for sustainable sports performance and national development.

Lead papers were presented by Dr Mary Pindar from University of Maiduguri and Prof J.B. Vipene of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, who provided empirical and theoretical perspectives on resilience-building, athlete welfare and mental health in sports.