Kunle Ayantola, the Administrator of Kwara Football Academy, Ilorin, says the academy plans to begin awarding the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in sports-related courses. According to Ayantola, this will happen after being affiliated to the Kwara State Polytechnic.

Ayantola told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Ilorin that the academy would seek the approval of the National Institute for Sports to design its course curriculum.

He said: "There is an ongoing negotiation between the academy and the polytechnic authorities, who would be expected to assist the academy to obtain the approval of the National Board for Technical Education."

According to him, Sport Coaching and Performance, Sports Facility Management (grounds management), Sports First Aid and Safety and Sports Journalism are among the course under consideration.

Others are Sports Management (administration), Sports Marketing (PR, Sponsorship/Endorsement), Sports Nutrition, Sports Photography, Physical Therapy (physiotherapy), Psychology, Refereeing (officiating).

Ayantola said: "I have visited the NISports for discussion over this and when they noticed our proposal will take youths off the streets, they said it was a welcome development.

"The NISports management has promised to study our proposal and will soon come for inspection. "We believe the NISports has the expertise and competence in developing a curriculum for all these courses."

The administrator expressed the academy's expectation that successful graduands from the courses would also be eligible to participate in the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Ayantola explained that the academy would seek the collaboration of all stakeholders in the tertiary education as well as the the sports council over the plan.

KFA was an initiative of the then Kwara State Governor and now President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who established the academy in 2005. The Academy's initial focus was to develop football skills of youths, but currently it runs as a secondary school.

It was to be open to all regardless of state of origin. However, it currently has seven coaches who are all former international football players with coaching certificates.