Sports247 caught up with Oguike Saran Ifeoma, CEO of Saran-Ify Sports Academy, a subsidiary of Saran-Ify International Foundation for African Children, during the 80th-anniversary celebration of Holy Child College, Ikoyi.
The milestone event featured an annual inter-house sports competition, with students participating in various events, including football, athletics, tug of war, high jump, and table tennis. The competition will conclude with its final events on February 14, 2025.
Speaking on her foundation, Ifeoma explained, “Saran-Ify Foundation is an African foundation dedicated to supporting children and widows. I started with widows because of my own personal experiences. I reflected on how women who lose their husbands cope with life, and since I’ve always been passionate about helping others, I decided to extend that support to children as well. My love for sports led me to create a sports academy as a subsidiary of the foundation.”
The foundation and academy have been running for nearly a decade, with formal registration under the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the past five years. “If I count all the years before proper documentation, it’s been almost ten years. But officially, with CAC registration, we’ve existed for five years,” she clarified.
Saran-Ify Sports Academy has an ongoing partnership with Holy Child College S/W Ikoyi, which manages the school’s sports activities. “We have an affiliation with them. I oversee the school’s sports academy, and we offer training in football, taekwondo, swimming, basketball, tennis, karate, and many other sports,” Ifeoma stated.
Regarding the inter-house sports event, she noted, “I am actually anchoring the inter-house sports. The school’s administrator, Reverend Sister Christina, contacted me because she wanted professionals to handle the sports academy. My team and I came in to oversee the activities.”
Ifeoma called attention to the importance of grassroots sports development in Nigeria. “We don’t have a strong grassroots system in Nigeria, and that’s a major issue. I am deeply committed to developing young talents from the grassroots level. Many of my players who have travelled abroad struggled because they only knew the practical aspects of the game. That’s why I ensure our athletes learn both the theory and practical sides of sports.”
She added, “Students in our academy often express surprise at how we teach sports. They realise it’s more than just running onto the field to play football. Parents also notice the difference in our training approach.”
Beyond Holy Child College, Ifeoma revealed that her academy collaborates with multiple schools to develop young athletes. “It’s not just Holy Child; I’m working with other schools as well,” she said.
Ifeoma is furthering her sports management education to enhance her ability to nurture young talents. “I’m taking a sports management course at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) to gain more experience. This will help me refine our training programs and develop our athletes more effectively.”
She expressed confidence in the academy’s future: “Our sports academy is top-tier. The children excel, and even our new intakes will catch up quickly. Within a month, they will fully grasp what we teach because we ensure they understand sports’ theoretical and technical aspects.”
Currently based in Festac, Lagos, Saran-Ify Sports Academy continues to expand its reach, providing structured sports education and development opportunities for young athletes in Nigeria.
As the inter-house sports competition at Holy Child College progresses, Ifeoma remains committed to fostering excellence in school sports while ensuring that students receive professional training that equips them with greater opportunities in the sporting world.
