From classroom theory to intensive practical sessions, JC International Coaches Academy has once again demonstrated its commitment to strengthening football coaching education in Nigeria, as 12 coaches successfully completed this year’s Premier Coaching Programme on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
The latest graduation marks another significant step in the academy’s growing effort to bridge the gap in modern coaching education, particularly within Ogun State and the Nigerian football ecosystem.
Founded by Dr. Joe Ogunsanya and his wife, Comfort Ogunsanya, JC International Coaches Academy was established from a simple but important observation: Nigeria possesses enormous football talent, but the development of that talent requires properly educated and continually updated coaches.
According to Dr. Ogunsanya, the academy was born out of research and a desire to contribute to the development of football coaching in the country.
“I feel like there’s a lack in coaching education in the country, also in the state. The best way to give back to the country is to have something like this.”
Rather than positioning itself as a competitor to existing football institutes, JC International Coaches Academy sees its role as complementary, providing another avenue through which coaches can improve their knowledge, practical ability and understanding of the modern game.
One of the defining features of the JC International programme is its emphasis on combining classroom education with practical football experience.
The 12 Premier graduates underwent an intensive four-day programme involving extensive classroom and field sessions. Dr. Ogunsanya explained that the academy's structure is designed to reflect international approaches to advanced coaching education.
The objective, he stressed, is not simply for coaches to obtain a certificate, but to demonstrate that they understand how to apply their knowledge on the pitch.
This year's, 12 Premier students successfully completed both the classroom and practical requirements, with Dr. Ogunsanya describing their graduation as a major honour for the academy.
The programme also represents the academy's second year producing Premier-level graduates, following the graduation of more than 30 coaches at the same level in the previous cycle.
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| DR. JOE OGUNSANYA |
For Coach Akeem Busari, Director of JC Football Coaches Academy, Ogun State and Head Coach of Nigeria's U17 Women's National Team, the importance of the programme goes beyond obtaining another coaching qualification.
Busari believes football has changed significantly and coaches must change with it.
According to him, modern coaching has become increasingly scientific, requiring coaches to understand areas including tactical methodology, technology, data and other developments influencing performance.
He stressed that coaches who want to operate at the highest level must continually upgrade themselves.
For Busari, the impact of the JC programme is already visible in the students.
He noted that many of the coaches came from different clubs and environments, but demonstrated a strong desire to learn and apply their newly acquired knowledge when they return to their respective teams.
He also believes that improving coaching education will ultimately benefit Nigerian players and the wider football structure.
“Train the Trainers” — The Philosophy Behind JC
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| COACH AKEEM BUSARI |
That philosophy was strongly echoed by Coach Victor Damilola Agbagu, one of the academy's instructors and Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Ogun State Chapter.
Agbagu described the programme as an important opportunity to address the coaching education gap, particularly at grassroots level.
For him, one of the most encouraging qualities among the students was their willingness to learn, unlearn and relearn.
“We want to see the good things that you are going to bring out from your team, not the usual way of doing things.”
He explained that theoretical knowledge and practical application must work together.
A coach may understand football concepts in the classroom, but must also know how to translate those concepts into practical training sessions and match situations.
That combination, he said, is central to the JC approach.
The academy's philosophy is therefore simple: train the trainers.
Graduates are expected to take what they have learned back to their clubs, academies and communities and, in turn, develop more players and coaches.
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| COACH AGBAGU VICTOR |
Instructor Coach Henry Ovieawe highlighted another important reality facing modern coaches: football is constantly evolving.
According to Ovieawe, some of the students arrived with coaching ideas shaped by previous experiences, but the programme challenged them to examine those ideas against current global best practices.
“Coaching these days is evolving, so we have to take them through the modern methodology of coaching.”
He particularly emphasized the importance of practical coaching.
Some coaches, he observed, may be able to explain football concepts verbally but struggle when required to demonstrate them on the training pitch.
The JC programme therefore placed significant emphasis on practical sessions, allowing instructors to assess not only what the coaches knew, but how effectively they could apply it.
For Ovieawe, graduation should not represent the end of learning.
Instead, he urged the coaches to continue researching, studying and updating their knowledge.
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| COACH HENRY OVIEAWE |
The academy's long-term ambition goes beyond producing graduates every year.
Dr. Ogunsanya said JC International wants to develop coaches who can build their craft around the academy's philosophy and contribute positively to Nigerian society.
The vision is to create an environment where coaches understand that education is a continuous process.
That message was reinforced throughout the programme, particularly at a time when technology, performance analysis, sports science and data are increasingly becoming important parts of football.
For the academy, the question is no longer simply whether a coach has obtained a licence.
It is whether that coach continues to evolve.
A Contribution to Nigerian Football
The conclusion of the 2026 Premier Coaching Programme represents another chapter in JC International Coaches Academy's growing contribution to football development.
From its founders to its instructors and graduates, the academy's message is clear: Nigeria's football development must also be a development of its coaches.
Players can only be developed to their full potential when the people responsible for developing them understand the modern game.
With 12 new Premier graduates now ready to take their knowledge back into clubs, academies and football communities, JC International Coaches Academy hopes this year's programme will create an impact that extends far beyond the graduation ceremony.
And as the academy looks towards the future, its philosophy remains firmly rooted in continuous development:
Train. Retrain. Evolve. Develop.
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