NIS Director-General Seeks NELFUND Partnership To Bolster Sports Education, Workforce

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has called for a strategic collaboration with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to strengthen sports education and develop a skilled workforce within the nation’s sporting ecosystem.

During a visit by the NIS management team to the NELFUND head office, Shaibu emphasised the critical role the fund can play in supporting aspiring coaches and sports professionals.

“We are here to partner with NELFUND. They have a key role in developing coaches and building the workforce needed in the sports sector,” Shaibu stated.

Providing historical context, the Director-General noted that the institute was conceived in 1972 and formally established in 1974, with a clear mandate to train sports personnel for both Nigeria and the wider African continent.
“NIS once trained coaches from across Africa who came to learn sports administration and coaching. Unfortunately, the institute suffered years of neglect and mismanagement,” he remarked.

He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for revitalising the institute, describing his own appointment as part of a deliberate effort to restore the NIS to its foundational purpose. He added that the President had “decided to bring life back into the NIS, the engine room of sports development in Nigeria.”

Shaibu revealed that the current administration is focused on aligning the institute with modern standards. He noted that while the NIS was originally modelled after leading institutions in Australia and Germany, it had lacked vitality for years.

The former Deputy Governor of Edo State disclosed that upon assuming office, he discovered significant gaps in the institute’s original framework. This led to the development of a 10-year strategic plan to guide the institute’s mission. The roadmap was refined by a 32-member committee led by Engr. Ahmed Musa Kida, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and the private sector.

Shaibu highlighted the financial challenges faced by students, noting that while the institute currently allows tuition fees to be paid in instalments, a more sustainable solution is required.
“Collaboration with NELFUND is essential, as there is already a framework designed by Mr President to support such needs,” he explained. He further noted that the institute’s programmes aim to engage young people, steering them away from the streets and equipping them with professional skills.

In response, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Oluwale Sawyerr, commended Shaibu’s leadership and expressed confidence in his ability to reposition the institute.
“I know for sure that the journey that has brought you here was not easy… these are significant achievements,” Sawyerr said, referring to Shaibu’s career in student leadership and his time as a two-term Deputy Governor.
Sawyerr shared his own experiences of sports abroad and reaffirmed the importance of using athletics as a tool for social development. He assured the NIS of NELFUND’s readiness to support the institute through strategic partnerships and access to educational loans.
The meeting concluded with both parties pledging to work together to expand opportunities in sports education and empower the next generation of Nigerian athletes and coaches.