Shaibu Urges Increased Funding, Constitution Of NSC Board To Revitalise Nigerian Sports

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has issued a renewed and impassioned plea for a significant increase in funding to reposition the institute and fostering comprehensive sports development across Nigeria.

Shaibu made his fervent appeal on Wednesday during a crucial budget defence session held at the National Assembly in Abuja. He underscored the NIS’s unwavering commitment to its core mandate: training skilled manpower for the entire sports ecosystem and actively promoting grassroots sports development.

However, he stressed that persistent inadequate funding remains the primary obstacle hindering these vital objectives.

“Our mandate is to train manpower for the sports ecosystem and promote sports from the grassroots,” Shaibu stated emphatically. “But we cannot achieve this without adequate government funding. We need a budget that truly reflects our vision and mission to improve sports in Nigeria and enable our athletes to compete effectively on the global stage.”

The immediate past deputy governor of Edo State expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the House Committee on Sports for their continued support. Nonetheless, he urged for the swift constitution of the board of the National Sports Commission (NSC), highlighting its critical role in revitalising the entire sector.

According to Shaibu, a properly constituted board would provide the much-needed strategic direction and institutional stability vital for long-term, sustainable sports development.

Describing the NIS as the “lifeline of sports development” in the country, Shaibu called for premium attention and investment in the institute. This, he argued, would empower Nigeria to achieve greater heights in both local and international competitions. He further attributed the institute’s limited visibility and reach across the states of the federation directly to persistent underfunding, which has severely hampered its expansion and crucial outreach programmes.

Earlier in the session, the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Rep. Kabiru Amadu, echoed Shuaibu’s concerns, decrying the poor funding of the institute. Amadu described the NIS as a “critical pillar” in national sports development and emphasised the urgent need for increased budgetary allocation to enable it to discharge its responsibilities effectively. He pledged the committee’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to improve the NIS’s funding for optimal performance and national impact.

Established in 1974, the National Institute of Sports serves as Nigeria’s premier training and research centre for sports development. Its crucial mandate includes producing highly qualified coaches, proficient sports administrators, and essential technical personnel, all vital to driving excellence and innovation within the Nigerian sports sector. The current financial constraints threaten to undermine this foundational role, impacting the future of Nigerian sports.