From Producing Nigerian Internationals To Building Own Stadium: Buruj Sports Academy Takes Bold Step In Ikorodu

Buruj Sports Academy is turning years of grassroots football success into an ambitious infrastructure project with a proposed stadium development in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The project is aimed at transforming opportunities for young Nigerian footballers and providing a permanent home for the academy’s growing football development programme.

The academy, founded by Dr. Waheed Salaudeen, has unveiled a development layout featuring a standard 105m x 68m football pitch, spectator stand, changing rooms, administrative and first-aid facilities, toilets, parking spaces and perimeter security.

Unlike its earlier three-acre, 5,000-seat stadium concept, the latest architectural proposal adopts a more practical, phased approach, beginning with an approximately 80-100 seat stand and essential football facilities.

Buruj’s ambitions are backed by its track record of nurturing talents, including former Nigeria U-15 internationals Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen and Fawas Ayomide Adeleke, who represented the country in youth competitions in Morocco and Algeria.

The academy has also facilitated opportunities for players in Spain and Lithuania, while six of its youngsters recently earned selection for an international football exposure programme following the Italian Consulate General U-20 Tournament.

Speaking on the project, Dr. Salaudeen, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer, said the dream goes beyond the academy.

“This dream is bigger than Buruj Sports Academy alone. We are appealing to private individuals, corporate organizations, investors, and well-meaning Nigerians to support this vision,” he said.

He has consistently championed football development alongside education, with a determination to build a sustainable sporting institution capable of serving generations of young Nigerians.

For potential investors, the project offers opportunities in stadium naming rights, facility sponsorship, youth development partnerships, football tournaments and community sports programmes.

With a survey document and proposed layout now presented, the academy is inviting partners to help turn its vision into reality, subject to necessary technical assessments and development approvals.

From discovering football stars to building the infrastructure that produces them, Buruj Sports Academy is preparing to build the future of grassroots football in Nigeria.