Taiwo Awoniyi reveals promise to father that inspired him to pursue education alongside football

Nigeria and Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed that a promise he made to his father has motivated him to continue his education throughout his football career.

The 29-year-old made the revelation after graduating from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Business School, marking his third academic qualification.

Awoniyi told BBC Sport that he already holds a degree in business management and another diploma before completing his latest qualification.

“I’ve got a degree in business management and another diploma, so this is my third qualification,” he said.
The striker explained that his father, Solomon, always emphasised the importance of education, even as he pursued a professional football career.

“I say to people I’m a quiet dreamer. I always felt education was important. It was a promise I made to my dad that if I played football, I would keep studying.
“That is what I’ve done and I am proud of it,” Awoniyi said.
The Coventry City forward, who joined the club from Nottingham Forest this summer, has continued his studies alongside his professional career.

He said the challenges and setbacks he has experienced in football have further reinforced the need to develop himself outside the sport.

Awoniyi suffered a serious injury in May 2025 after colliding with a goalpost during Nottingham Forest’s Premier League match against Leicester City. He was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma after rupturing his intestine.

The Nigeria international believes professional footballers have enough time to pursue other interests despite the demands of their careers.

“It’s not like a 9-5 job in football. We go in and sometimes finish quite early and, although it is challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school,” he said.

Awoniyi also stressed that football should not be viewed as the entirety of a player’s life.
“I say to people there are a lot of things that are bigger than football. Yes, football is our passion but we are normal human beings as well – and maybe that’s something the world doesn’t always see,” he said.

The PFA Business School programme is designed to allow professional footballers to study alongside their careers, with seminars scheduled to minimise clashes with matches and training sessions.

For Awoniyi, the latest qualification adds another milestone to an academic journey he says was inspired by a promise he made to his father.