Mike Edward Ndidi: The Accidental Sports Journalist Who Became a Voice of Nigerian Sports

By Ohis Asein

Veteran sports journalist Mike Edward Ndidi has described his entry into journalism as an “accident” that eventually became a remarkable career spanning more than three decades.

From football pitches in Kano to the newsroom, and from selling thousands of copies of sports newspapers to breaking major exclusive stories, Ndidi has built a reputation as one of the experienced figures who contributed significantly to the development of sports journalism in Nigeria.

Speaking on his career, Ndidi revealed that journalism was never part of his original plan.

“I ventured into journalism by accident,” he said.

His first love was football. Ndidi had enjoyed an active playing career and captained the now-defunct P&T/NITEL team before his football career was prematurely cut short. He had also captained prominent teams in Kano, including the Catholic football team, and later ventured into coaching.

It was while coaching a women's football team in Kano that his journey into journalism began to take shape.

Around 1985 or 1986, Ndidi and some friends formed what he described as the first female football team in Kano and Northern Nigeria, apart from the Kada Bees, which was associated with the late Madame Ranchers.

He later attended a YSFON competition in Ilorin in 1986/87, but his biggest turning point came through his relationship with veteran journalist Richard Jideaka, then a sports reporter with the Triumph Newspaper in Kano.

Jideaka introduced him to sports reporting and helped guide him towards a profession that would eventually define his life.

From Sports Parade to the Big Leagues

Ndidi's early journalism experience came through Sports Parade, a weekly sports publication founded by the late Sani Jibrin, a former sports editor of the Triumph Newspaper.

The publication quickly gained popularity in Kano, with Ndidi recalling that they sold more than 3,000 copies every weekend around Sabon Gari Stadium.

Those early years gave him valuable experience, built his network and established him as a familiar figure within the northern sports community.

From Sports Parade, Ndidi moved through several major sports publications, including Sports Souvenir, which he joined in 1987, and later Sports Weekly, published by veteran journalists Frank Ilaboya and the late Tony Akhigbe.

He also worked with Masters Sports in Lagos alongside prominent media figures including Mitchel Obi, Danladi Bako, Sam John (SJ) and Ejiro Omonode.

Before joining Complete Sports, Ndidi was also involved with Sports Link, where he worked as a pioneer staff member alongside Emeka Inyama, Fan Nduboeke and Onyebuchi Abia.

His career also included working as a correspondent for Star Soccer, published by Samm Audu in Kaduna, and a stint with Kick-Off, a weekly sports publication from Jos.

The Complete Sports Breakthrough

Ndidi considers his time with Complete Sports one of the most important chapters of his career.

He joined the organisation as a pioneer staff member and eventually spent more than 21 years there, receiving a long-service award.

His breakthrough came when Complete Sports expanded into a daily sports newspaper. Ndidi, who was then based in Kano, was asked to relocate to Abuja and became the newspaper's correspondent there.

The new daily publication required journalists to produce exclusive stories capable of attracting readers in a highly competitive market.

Ndidi rose to the challenge.

His ability to break stories earned him the nickname “Mr Exclusive” at Complete Sports.

He recalled that during major international competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, Complete Sports could print more than 90,000 copies, reflecting the enormous appetite for sports news at a time when online journalism had yet to transform the industry.

His contributions were recognised by the Managing Director, Alhaji Mumini Alao, who mentioned Ndidi among the “great Michaels” in his first book, alongside famous personalities bearing the name Michael.

Ndidi also became the Head of Bureau for Complete Sports and, according to him, was the first person to publish Complete Sports from outside Lagos.

More Than a Journalist

Beyond journalism, Ndidi has remained deeply involved in football and sports administration.

He also worked as a football scout for the then-defunct Katsina United FC, under its proprietor, the former Military Administrator of Borno State and former NFF Chairman, Colonel Abdulmumini Aminu.

His influence extended into the politics and administration of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

Ndidi proudly recalled his involvement in the emergence of Fan Nduboeke as SWAN President, saying his knowledge of northern Nigeria and ability to communicate fluently in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba helped him mobilise support across different parts of the country.

He also played prominent roles in supporting the emergence of Sani Zaria, Saidu Abubakar and Olu Amadsun, among others, as leaders who contributed to the growth of the association.

For Ndidi, SWAN politics was not merely about elections but about representation, unity and building bridges among journalists from different parts of Nigeria.

“I Have No Regrets”

Despite the challenges associated with journalism, Ndidi says he has no regrets about choosing the profession.

“I cannot say I have had any dull or bad moments in journalism, especially sports journalism,” he said.

Having spent more than three decades covering sports, particularly football, he believes the profession has taken him to places he might never have visited and introduced him to some of Nigeria's most prominent personalities.

“I've been able to travel far and wide. I've visited many places and had the privilege of meeting many prominent Nigerians because of my stint in sports journalism,” he said.

For Ndidi, those experiences are part of the blessings that have come from a career he never originally planned to pursue.

The Challenge of Recognition and Welfare

However, the veteran journalist believes journalism still has a major structural problem.

According to him, the profession lacks the kind of clearly defined career structure, ranking and recognition that exist in professions such as law.

“If the profession had been streamlined like the legal profession or other professions that have standards and established structures, I think it would have been better,” he said.

He believes journalists who have contributed significantly to the profession should be properly recognised and categorised based on their years of service and contributions.

Ndidi also called for stronger welfare structures for journalists, particularly those working for private media organisations.

He advocated government intervention and professional bodies working together to ensure journalists have access to welfare schemes, insurance and post-career support.

“We have so many of our colleagues who have passed on and were unable to sustain their families. Their children are struggling because there were no funds or welfare arrangements left behind for them,” he lamented.

He stressed that the issue goes beyond sports journalism, noting that journalists generally deserve better protection after dedicating their productive years to the profession.

Preparing to Give Back

As he approaches retirement, Ndidi says his focus is gradually shifting from journalism to giving back to society.

“I want to leave it to the younger ones who are coming up because I am almost retiring,” he said.

After more than three decades in the profession, his ambition now is to return home, contribute to his community and use the experience accumulated over the years to make a difference.

A Legacy of Unity

When asked how he wants to be remembered, Ndidi did not mention awards, positions or exclusive stories.

Instead, he chose one word: unity.

“I want to be remembered for unity, especially for the fact that I was able to build bridges,” he said.

Coming from Delta State but speaking Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba fluently, Ndidi believes his ability to connect with people across Nigeria has been one of his greatest gifts.

“I have friends from the West, the North and the East. I've made friends across the country, and that's what I sincerely want to be remembered for.”

For a journalist whose career began almost by accident, Mike Edward Ndidi has certainly left footprints across Nigerian sports journalism.

From the football pitch to the newsroom, from Kano to Lagos and Abuja, from Sports Parade to Complete Sports, and from reporting stories to shaping the politics of SWAN, his journey is a reflection of dedication, resilience, relationships and an enduring passion for Nigerian sport.

As he prepares for the next chapter of his life, Ndidi's greatest wish is perhaps the simplest: to be remembered not just for the stories he broke, but for the bridges he built and the unity he promoted.