South-West Zonal Representative on the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Board, Tayo Atoloye, had revealed that the last four years has brought huge strides in infrastructure development, grassroots engagement and policy reforms across the region in the sport.
A former international cricketer, Atoloye brought both playing experience and administrative vision to the board, earning commendations from stakeholders for his results-driven leadership.
Central to his achievements is the construction and renovation of training facilities across all six states in the South-West. “We worked in collaboration with the local authorities, state sports commissions, the NCF and community partners, to ensure that each state received functional cricket nets and training grounds,” he said.
“One of the standout accomplishments was the establishment of Nigeria’s first-ever indoor cricket training centre, The Cricket Lab, at the TBS Oval in Lagos, which relieves the NCF and has contributed immensely to the capacity development of our players and it has given our coaches the opportunity to transfer knowledge in a conducive environment.”
In addition to infrastructure, he said focus was placed on improving access to equipment by organising and partly financing multiple donation drives; distributing essential kits such as bats, pads and balls to schools and clubs. His efforts, backed by private sponsors, significantly reduced the financial burden on families and increased participation at the grassroots level.
At the policy and governance level, Atoloye played a major role in shaping the direction of Nigerian cricket. He chaired both the Technical and Media Committees during the ICC events hosted by Nigeria in 2024 and 2025—events that were praised by the global cricket body. Furthermore, his roles on the High Performance, Development and Audit Committees helped shape player welfare policies, including the introduction of medical insurance for national players and staff.
Human capacity development also featured prominently in his agenda. He facilitated the deployment of additional Development Officers to under-served areas and sponsored elite South-West coaches and umpires for ICC Level 2 and 3 certification programs. These initiatives raised officiating standards in regional leagues and aligned coaching methods with international best practices.
Understanding the financial challenges often faced by regional teams, he led successful fundraising campaigns to support South-West squads at the PwC U17 finals. He ensured that that players received support for travel, accommodation, insurance and training, ultimately enhancing their chances of national recognition and success.
Also spearheading initiatives to strengthen the NCF’s digital presence, he coordinated live streams of major events, launched social media campaigns and fostered collaborations with influencers to spotlight both federation milestones and player achievements.
As an ICC-certified Level 3 umpire, he officiated several international matches and used his expertise to mentor emerging umpires in the zone.
NCF President Uyi Akpata and other officials have acknowledged his outstanding contributions, particularly during the maiden Legends Cup held in Oyo State in 2022. His role in talent identification, facility planning, and operational coordination has been hailed as instrumental to the federation’s success in the region.
Atoloye noted that this is just the beginning, revealing an ambitious manifesto for the next board term, including a zonal High-Performance Program, expanding competitive tournaments, enhancing women’s cricket and intensifying coach and umpire certification drives. With an eye on sustainability, he aims to drive more public-private partnerships and strengthen data systems to support long-term planning.
