Akande spoke as a guest lecturer at a public lecture, tagged: ‘How recreation clubs can contribute to the economy,’ organised by Clubsworld, an online platform for social and sporting clubs in Nigeria.
He noted that recreation clubs play a significant role in Nigeria’s economic development, saying it is an essential factor in improving the health and well-being of individuals while contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Akande said in recent times, recreation clubs have influenced the country in good policies, human capital, investments and production, Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Political stability.
Akande, who is the immediate past president of Lagos Country Club, said social clubs’ members, have contributed massively to the national economy through their businesses, thereby promoting inter-ethnic and interracial understanding.
He said: “Apart from the opportunity to build new friendships and explore personal interests, members of social clubs are able to influence policy and appointment because of their direct access to decision-makers.
“The infrastructure provided by social clubs enables members to exercise, so they become physically fit, healthier, which gives them longevity, in which case they are able to contribute in the production in terms of availability of labour.
“Also, the profile of membership is such that they have direct access to decision-makers and through that, they are able to influence policies and influence appointments.
These are some of the ways that social clubs contribute to the economy.
“Their various businesses contribute to the economy and we are saying the membership of these recreation clubs, because of the calibre of members and their business networks, aid their contribution to the national economy in terms of GDP.”
Editor-in-Chief, Clubsworld.net, Sanya Onayoade, said the theme of the public lecture was influenced by the current economic challenges facing the country and the need for recreation clubs to play a vital role in building the economy.
“Recreation clubs in Nigeria are populated by the elite, captains of industry, renowned economists and many professionals, who have the knowledge about economic indices for growth, and this platform is aimed at exploiting that avenue,” he said.
