Life for Joshua Onoja is all about being the best he can be at everything he takes on - and it’s probably safe to say there are not many students who are working as hard as he is to achieve those goals.
Because, during the day, Joshua is studying the prestigious FIFA Master course at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Joshua is the lead arbitrator for the Nigeria Football Federation
Then, when lectures finish and course work is completed, Joshua puts on his barrister’s hat to work into the night as the leading sports arbitrator for the national Nigeria Football Federation.
It is incredibly hard work but, Joshua says, it is also incredibly rewarding.
“All my life, my belief has been to look for the best opportunities possible for myself in the sports industry,” he explains. “I have always said, from the very beginning, my role working in law is to leave a legacy.
“The only way to do that is by committing your time wherever possible to improvement and working to a standard that is as high as possible.”
The one-year FIFA Master course is co-ordinated by the Centre International d'Etude du Sport (CIES) in Switzerland and is supported by football's world governing body FIFA.
It involves students dedicating a term of study at DMU's International Centre for Sports History and Culture (ICSHC) in the Humanities of Sport before also spending a term at both the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy, and Switzerland's University of Neuchâtel.
The FIFA Master is regarded as one of the world's best sports management courses and, in September this year, was named by Sports Business International as Europe's top ranked postgraduate sports management course for a record 12th time.
Joshua has always worked hard and played hard – especially when it comes to football.
“As a young boy growing up in Nigeria, like everywhere else in the world, me and my friends would finish school, map out a pitch and play football – with no rules – until night time.
“That was almost continuous through my time at primary school. Then when I got to secondary school, I played for the school team and took part in competitions. I always played No7 on the right wing.
“I was playing so much football while studying economics at university that people would ask me if I was serious about the course. But it was enjoying playing football that was driving my career aspirations.
“I came out 3rd best in the class and, when I graduated, I went into law school where I became a solicitor and a barrister.”
Joshua’s route to becoming a top sports lawyer at the Nigeria Football Federation came about when he entered compulsory national service with the National Youth Service Corps.
“All graduates serve in the National Youth Service Corps before getting a job in Nigeria and, when I went to camp, I was positioned with the federation. I majored in sports arbitration and, when FIFA brought the under-17 World Cup to Nigeria, the federation appointed me to the legal department for the local organising committee.
“I then completed a master’s in law – majoring in sports law – and I continued to rise through the ranks.”
Sports arbitration with the Nigerian Football Federation ensures footballers and coaches are paid the right wages, given the best contracts and looks at providing better player and coach welfare.
It also means Joshua has close ties with Nigerian players who ply their trade in the UK and across Europe.
“Wilfird Ndidi (star midfielder for Leicester City) is my close friend, so he has invited me to watch Leicester. I have also visited other stadiums like Man City and West Ham United. I am looking forward to visiting Arsenal and Man Utd next.
“We are proud of how football is progressing in Nigeria but we are not relaxing about it and we will continue to build on our success. And we should be expected to qualify for the next World Cup in 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico.”
Joshua is enjoying the sports history element of his course.
“This is an aspect of learning that you do not just get taught anywhere. This is the only programme that has sports history and humanities of sport taught in this way and that is amazing – going through history to understand how different sports came about.
“It is all really interesting and really exciting.”
On top of all his day and night work there is another important task Joshua has to complete every day.
“I am married with three children aged 11, five and 23 months, living in Nigeria. So, I speak to them early each morning. In fact, the 23-month-old will not go to school unless he has spoken to his Daddy.”
Posted on Wednesday 18 December 2024