Polo · Careers
How to build a polo career in Nigeria
From your first riding lesson to the Majekodunmi Cup: how polo works in Nigeria, the honest truth about money, and the careers around the horses.
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Careers in polo
Your road into Nigerian polo
Polo is one of Nigeria's oldest organised sports. British officers founded the Lagos Polo Club in Ikoyi in 1904, and the game spread through the northern emirates, where Usman Nagogo, Emir of Katsina from 1944, is hailed as the father of Nigerian polo. Today the Lagos International Polo Tournament draws around 120 players and more than 480 horses from Nigeria, Europe, South Africa and Argentina.
This page is for young riders, parents and anyone who loves horses and wonders whether polo can be a career. It explains how people learn the game, how the handicap ladder works, how the best Nigerian players rose, and the many jobs in polo that are not on horseback: grooms, coaches, umpires, vets, club managers and the business people who bring in sponsors. Everything was checked on 1 October 2026.
The honest truth: polo is expensive, and most players fund themselves or play for teams backed by sponsors and patrons. We could not find any published salaries for Nigerian polo players. But the sport employs many people around the horses and the tournaments, and talented riders do rise.
Career facts · Checked 1 October 2026
Nigerian polo in numbers
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1904
Lagos Polo Club founded
One of Nigeria's oldest organised sports.
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4
Riders per team
Matches are played in periods called chukkas.
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27
Teams at Lagos 2026
The Lagos International, 27 January to 15 February.
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480+
Horses at Lagos 2026
With about 120 players from four continents.
The pathway at a glance
Six stages from first ride to high-goal polo
There is no fixed age. Many players start as children; others learn as adults.
Any age
Learn to ride safely
Every polo career starts with confident, safe riding. Many polo clubs offer riding lessons for children and adults.
Age 8 and up
Join a polo club or academy
Clubs in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jos, Bauchi, Ibadan and Makurdi teach the basics: mallet work, rules and horse care.
Teenage years
Stick and ball, then practice chukkas
Hit balls from the saddle, then play short practice periods, called chukkas, with experienced players.
When ready
Low-goal tournaments
Lower-handicap cups at NPF tournaments give new players match experience.
With results
Rise up the handicap ladder
The federation reviews handicaps after tournaments. Each goal of handicap marks a step up.
Top level
High-goal teams and the Majekodunmi Cup
The best Nigerian players compete for the top cups at the Lagos International.
Step by step
Eight steps to a career in polo
Follow these in order. Safe riding comes before everything else.
Learn to ride well, and love the horse
Polo is played on horseback by teams of four riders, in periods called chukkas. Before anything else you must ride confidently and safely, and understand how to care for a horse. Several polo clubs and training centres in Nigeria offer horse riding lessons, and they welcome both young people and adults.
- Spend time at the stables: grooming, feeding and tacking up teach you how horses think.
- Always ride with a helmet and with an instructor present.
Join a club near you
Nigeria's polo clubs include the Lagos Polo Club (1 Polo Club Road, off Ribadu Road, Ikoyi), Kaduna Polo Club, Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club near Kaduna, the Ibadan Polo Club, and clubs in Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Makurdi and Keffi. Our clubs page lists the addresses. Visit, watch a practice and ask about junior and beginner programmes.
Master the mallet and the rules
Practise hitting the ball from the saddle at a walk, then a canter, on both sides of the horse. Learn the line of the ball and the right of way, which keep riders and horses safe. Watch tournaments and study how experienced players position themselves.
Understand the handicap system
Every polo player has a handicap measured in goals, from minus 2 for beginners up to 10 for the best players in the world. Team handicaps decide which cups a team can enter: at the 2026 Lagos International, the top prize, the Majekodunmi Cup, was for teams of 14 goals and above, while the Silver Cup was for teams of 0 to 2 goals. The Nigeria Polo Federation's handicapping committee reviews players' handicaps after tournaments.
Play low-goal tournaments
The Nigeria Polo Federation circuit runs tournaments across the country, from Lagos to Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Katsina, Bauchi, Minna and Yola. Lower-goal cups are where new players gain experience. Play often, play safely and ask senior players for feedback.
Learn from the best Nigerian players
Bello Buba, who made his debut at a tournament in Jos in 1986, is regarded as Nigeria's best player and among the highest-rated in sub-Saharan Africa. The current Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Dr Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, started playing in the early 1980s and remains a leading figure in the game. Read their stories on our players page.
Join a team and grow your network
Teams in Nigerian polo are often backed by sponsors and patrons. At the 2026 Lagos International, 27 teams took part, with GTCO as main sponsor. Being reliable, well mounted and a good team-mate is how players get invited onto stronger teams.
Build a career around the horses
Even if you never become a high-goal player, polo can give you a career: as a groom, coach, umpire, vet, farrier, stable or club manager, or in the business of sponsorship and events. See Careers around the polo field below.
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Money
Making a living in polo
Polo is a costly sport, and it is important to be honest about money.
| Question | What we could verify | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Player salaries | No published salaries for Nigerian polo players | SitesNG |
| Prize money | No published prize money for Nigerian tournaments | SitesNG |
| Scale of the top event | Lagos International 2026: about 120 players, more than 480 horses, 27 teams, main sponsor GTCO | BusinessDay; Daily Trust, 2026 |
| Business of polo | A Nigerian company, Phoenix Polo, works with clubs on sponsorship, brand partnerships, marketing and media | The Guardian (Nigeria), 14 August 2026 |
How people make polo work: many players pay their own way or play for teams supported by sponsors and patrons. The jobs that pay most reliably are around the game: caring for horses, coaching, running clubs and tournaments, and the commercial side that brings in sponsors and media.
Beyond playing
Careers around the polo field
A tournament with nearly 500 horses needs a small army of skilled people. These are real careers in Nigerian polo.
| Career | What it involves | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Groom | Feeding, exercising, grooming and preparing horses for every chukka. | Ask at your nearest polo club's stables; most grooms learn on the job. |
| Riding and polo coach | Teaching beginners to ride and play. | Become a strong rider and player first, then assist an experienced coach at a club. |
| Umpire | Controlling matches on horseback, with a referee on the side. | Learn the rules thoroughly and ask the Nigeria Polo Federation about umpiring opportunities. |
| Veterinarian and farrier | Keeping polo horses healthy and properly shod. | Study veterinary medicine at university, or train as a farrier with an experienced professional. |
| Club and tournament management | Running grounds, stables, events and members. | Volunteer at tournaments and club events. |
| Sponsorship, marketing and media | Bringing sponsors, audiences and media to polo. | Study business or media; Phoenix Polo shows there is a market for this work. |
Women's polo
Girls and women in polo
Polo is one of the few sports where men and women can play on the same team. Nigerian women are making their mark: Uneku Saliu-Atawodi is listed among the notable names of Nigerian polo, and Fatima Babangida Mohammed, a one-goal player, founded the Next Generation Polo Championship to give emerging players a platform. Girls who love horses should ask clubs about riding lessons and junior polo.
Stay safe
Safety and horse welfare
Horses are powerful animals and polo is a fast contact sport. Safety comes first.
Polo safety rules to live by
- Always wear a polo helmet, and use knee guards, boots and eye protection as your club requires.
- Never ride or play without an instructor or experienced adult present when you are learning.
- Respect the line of the ball and the right of way: most serious accidents happen when riders cross.
- Look after your horse first: a tired, injured or badly shod horse should never play.
- Be wary of anyone asking for large sums of money to “guarantee” a place on a team. Check with the club or the Nigeria Polo Federation.
Advice from the stars
What Nigerian polo people want you to know
Every quote below was checked word for word against the outlet named under it. We add one practical lesson to each.
The more involved I became, the more I began thinking about its future
Fatima Babangida MohammedOne-goal polo player and founder of the Next Generation Polo Championship
The Guardian (Nigeria), 14 August 2026The lesson: Love the game enough to think about how you can build it.
The aim is not to replace existing polo clubs or tournament committees, but to work alongside them and strengthen the commercial side of their events.
Fatima Babangida MohammedChief executive of Phoenix Polo Company
The Guardian (Nigeria), 14 August 2026The lesson: There are careers in polo off the horse too: sponsorship, marketing and events.
Your first move
Where to start this week
Start your polo journey this week:
- Find the polo club nearest to you on our clubs page.
- Book riding lessons and learn to ride confidently before you pick up a mallet.
- Visit the stables and learn how horses are cared for.
- Go and watch a tournament and study how players move.
- Learn the basic rules: chukkas, the line of the ball and handicaps.
- Think about the careers around polo, not only playing.
- Parents: ask clubs about junior programmes and safety standards.
The federation's details are on our Nigeria Polo Federation page, and every club address is on our polo clubs page.
Keep exploring
Explore Nigerian polo
Quick answers
Polo careers in Nigeria: your questions
How do I start playing polo in Nigeria?
Start by learning to ride safely. Many Nigerian polo clubs offer riding lessons for young people and adults, including clubs in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Ibadan and Makurdi. Then learn mallet work and the rules before playing practice chukkas.
Can you make a living from polo in Nigeria?
Few people make a living from playing alone, and no player salaries are published. Polo does employ many people around the game, such as grooms, coaches, umpires, vets, farriers, club managers and sponsorship and events specialists.
What is a polo handicap?
A rating measured in goals, from minus 2 for beginners up to 10 for the best players in the world. Team handicaps decide which cups a team can enter, and the Nigeria Polo Federation reviews handicaps after tournaments.
What is the biggest polo tournament in Nigeria?
The Lagos International Polo Tournament at the Lagos Polo Club in Ikoyi. In 2026 it ran from 27 January to 15 February with 27 teams, and Lagos STL won the Majekodunmi Cup.
Who is Nigeria's best polo player?
Bello Buba, who made his debut in Jos in 1986, is regarded as Nigeria's best player and among the highest-rated in sub-Saharan Africa.
Can girls and women play polo?
Yes. Men and women can play on the same polo team. Fatima Babangida Mohammed, a one-goal player, founded the Next Generation Polo Championship to support emerging players.
Who runs polo in Nigeria?
The Nigeria Polo Federation, led by president Francis Ogboro, who was re-elected in January 2025 for a term to 2027.