NIS Boss Seeks NFF Collaboration For Ambitious 2-year Coaching Plan

The Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has unveiled an ambitious two-year plan to address a deficit of two million coaches in Nigerian sport. The initiative aims to revolutionise the country’s coaching sector.

Shaibu’s announcement came during a condolence visit to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) following the passing of former NFA chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.

“We are here to pay our respects to the NFF on the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, a great leader who will be deeply missed at national, state, and community levels. We pray for his eternal rest and comfort for his family and the wider Nigerian football community,” Shaibu stated.

He continued, “We are also here to seek the NFF’s collaboration in our mission to bridge a two-million coaching gap within the Nigerian sports system. A meticulous study has yielded this figure. Achieving this goal as planned would be a complete transformation for the coaching sector.”

Shaibu highlighted the prevalence of football within the institute: “When we recently matriculated 232 students, 117 of them were football coaches – over 50% – with the remainder spread across other major sports. This further underscores Nigeria’s status as a footballing nation.”

Shaibu criticised the previous leadership of the NIS, suggesting the institute had not been fulfilling its purpose and questioning the allocation of past funds.

He pledged his full commitment to transforming the NIS, vowing to move beyond mere rhetoric to ensure it lives up to its profile as an institution modelled after the German Institute for Sports Science and the Australian Institute of Sport.

“Currently, we offer basic certificate and advanced diploma courses, but we are working with the National Universities Commission to introduce degree programmes,” Shaibu explained. “We have also begun decentralising the institute, establishing zonal offices in Yola, Kaduna, Jos, Enugu, and Abeokuta, with plans for one in Benin City.”

He commended the Ibrahim Musa Gusau administration for its “invisible but impactful reforms and visible legacy projects,” including the ongoing NFF-FIFA Players Hostel and new training pitches.

NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, described the late Galadima as a “father and leader,” recalling a lengthy discussion with him just two weeks before his death. “Alhaji Galadima was a mentor to many of us in leadership positions in Nigerian sport today. He was a man of dignity, diligence, integrity, and a lover of excellence. We will all miss him, including the NIS, where he once chaired the governing council.”

Regarding the NIS’s request for collaboration, Gusau affirmed the NFF’s readiness to provide full support. “This NFF administration has prioritised improving our coaches since its inception. We have organised numerous coaching courses, including a specific CAF C-License course for 30 women coaches, who will return for their B-License programme next year. We are also working hard to secure CAF’s approval for a CAF A-License course very soon.”

He added, “We will be ready to cooperate and collaborate with the NIS on all your ambitious targets and objectives. I advise you to meet with the Ministers and State Commissioners for Education to garner even more support for your goals.”

In his vote of thanks, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, a certified FIFA and CAF coaching instructor, suggested the NIS incorporate a diploma course in sports administration into its curriculum.

Also in attendance were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; NFF Director of Media & Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; NFF Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David; NFF Director of Finance & Admin, Mr Rajan Zaka; Director of Marketing & Sponsorship, Mr Alizor Chuks; Director of Protocol, Mr Barnabas Joro; and Special Assistant to the General Secretary, Mr Mohammed Ameenu.

Representing the NIS were Head of Administration, Dr Maryam Nasko; HOD Lecturing, Komolafe Sanjo; Head Coach, Jubril Yusuf; Consultant, Dr Remu Majoroh; Admin. Officer, Sikemi Oluwatayo; SA Media to the DG, Ben Ogbemudia; and Principal Private Secretary to the DG, Aisha Adogah.