London-based Nigerian real estate developer, Yemi Edun, has reflected on how his lifelong passion for sports, nurtured during his childhood in Surulere, Lagos, has evolved into a commitment to youth development and grassroots sports promotion, following his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
Edun said his sporting journey began in Surulere, where growing up near the National Stadium exposed him to football and other sporting activities that shaped his outlook on life.
According to him, the proximity of the stadium allowed children in the neighbourhood to watch national team training sessions, attend football matches and witness major sporting events, experiences that laid the foundation for his enduring love for sports.
He explained that those formative years instilled in him an appreciation not only for competition but also for the ability of sports to unite communities, inspire young people and create opportunities.
That passion, he noted, also influenced his early entrepreneurial ventures. One of his first businesses was “Shots,” a snooker hall designed to provide recreational opportunities while building a sporting community. Beyond operating the facility, he supplied snooker-table cloths and snooker balls, combining business with his interest in sports development.
