The #HiFLMasterClass Series is a sequence of online sessions created to grow and empower critical HiFL stakeholders – sports and non-sports enthusiasts by engaging experts on pertinent issues that affect them. Each session aims to drive value-delivery to every segment of the collegiate value chain including Sponsors/Partners, Sports Administrators/Managers, Athletes, and Fans while creating a viable platform for continued and long-term direct engagement between HiFL and fans.

The HiFL 2021 Master Class Series featured 5 Masters, 5 Classes and 1 Anchor, Akpem Michael Ngutor.

Session 1Date: 20^th May 2021

Topic: Sports As A Tool For Social Change And Youth Empowerment

Facilitator: Felix Awogu, Executive Head, Multi-choice Nigeria

Session starts: 4pm

Session ends: 5pm

Session Overview: The first session held on Thursday, 20th May 2021 with the Executive Head, Multi-Choice Nigeria and author of Fingers through a goal post - Felix Awogu, taking us through an exciting session titled, “Sport As A Tool For Social Change & Youth Empowerment”. Through his many years as a sport-journalists, Felix Awogu gave us deep insights into how sports can serve as a tool for social change and youth empowerment.

He spoke on the different appeals sports has which is not limited to only playing the games. When asked his advice for young people who wish to go into the sport industry he said, “… You must know where you fit in; the sport industry is wide, you just need to explore enough to find your perfect fit…” He also strongly reiterated that the Nigeria educational system needs to be restructured from ‘reading only’ to been ‘application based’. He sees engaging in sports as a win-win situation for everyone, “It is a win-win situation when people are engaged with sports and education”

To know more about this session of the MasterClass Series 2.0, follow this link

Session 2

Date: 21^st May 2021

Topic: Straight From The Mind: The Importance of Mental Health In Sports

Facilitator: Dr. Babatunde Akinbinu, Health & Safety Consultant, HiFL

Session starts: 4:01pm

Session Ends: 5:07pm

Session Overview:

Dr. Babatunde Akinbinu, a health and safety consultant, engaged the youths and participants on the need to take mental health seriously, emphasizing it is imperative to Sports at the Collegiate level and beyond. You can access materials on the entire session via this link

Session 3

Date: 25^th May 2021

Topic: Big Data In Football: Combining Data Sources For The Bigger Picture

Facilitator: Rogito Nyangeri, Director, ITB Strategies, Kenya

Session starts: 4:02pm  

Session Ends: 4:57pm

Session Overview: Rogito Nyangeri gave us a huge insight into how data can be collated, analysed and how it can be used to effect positive changes in sports. According to him, “…Data in itself is not of value except you do some analytics to it. Decisions are made based on the analytics of data that has been gathered”

You can follow this link to watch the full version of the masterclass.

Session 4

Date: 27^th May 2021

Topic: More Than an Athlete: Lending Your Voice For Change In Your Community

Facilitator: Chidiebere Ezeani, Media & Marketing Officer, NUGA

Session Starts: 4:02pm

Session Ends: 5pm

Session Overview: Chidiebere Ezeani took us through an explosive session of how athletes can lend their voices to issues in their community and society to effect positive changes. “…As an athlete, you have a voice and the voice of an athlete is acknowledged and respected so you should look for ways that your voice can be used to effect positive changes locally and globally”. She also gave instances where athletes have lent their voices to good causes to effect positive change.

Click here to know more about what she said on “More than an athlete: Lending your voice for change in your community”.

Session 5

Date: 29^th May 2021

Topic: Nutrition For Performance In Sport

Facilitator: Dr. Omar Tayari, Sports & Exercise Medicine Doctor, UK. Europe Head – ITB

Session Starts: 4:02pm

Session Ends: 5:15pm

Session Overview: The Masterclass Series 2.0 finale held on 29^th May 2021, with Dr Omar Tayari, Sports and Exercise Doctor based in the UK speaking on the topic “Nutrition for performance in sport”. Dr Omar spoke on different classes of food and the correct energy supply the body needs to function properly. “… Food is required at the right quantity as a fuel for performance”.  He also spoke on the average nutritional requirements for players depending on their Age, Gender, Maturity, Fitness, Climate, Exercise Intensity, Injury status, phase of training and competition.

Click here to get more about Dr. Omar Tayari’s nuggets on Nutrition For Performance In Sport.