Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, on Monday unveiled a 10-year strategic growth plan and inaugurated a 32-man advisory committee to transform the institution into a globally competitive sports development centre,
Speaking at the committee’s inauguration in Lagos, Shaibu outlined his roadmap based on what he described as “Revolutionary 4 Rs – Revitalise, Redefine, Rebrand, Relaunch” as prerequisites for transforming the institute.
The former Edo State Deputy Governor emphasised his commitment to returning NIS to its core mandate and making it self-funding within the next decade.
“We are excited to birth a new institute we will all be proud of. The first office I visited upon receiving my letter of office was the office of the NSC Chairman, and one of the things we discussed was that we have to be centralised,” Shaibu said.
We were supposed to have centres in each geopolitical zone, and we are 50 years later, and none of them have been established. So now, we are rebranding, restructuring and revitalising the NIS as a whole.”
The Director-General revealed that the institute would halt admissions next year until comprehensive reforms are completed, stating, “There will also be no admission next year until our work starts. We will have to halt admission until we have been able to see the documents on the plan that will make this institution work, and we need to digitalise the entire system.”
Central to the strategic plan is the revitalisation of the academic curriculum, with Shaibu noting that some courses have not been reviewed since the institute’s establishment in 1972. The plan also includes scaling up certificates to align with those issued by FIFA and CAF, alongside comprehensive infrastructure rebuilding and visual identity rebranding.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, pledged military support for the transformation, emphasising sports as a non-kinetic strategy for combating insecurity. In a message read by Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim, the CDS promised to ensure no efforts are spared in revitalising sports in Nigeria.
Chairman of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Musa Kida, who will chair the advisory committee, pledged corporate support for the vision.
The advisory committee comprises distinguished sports personalities and academics, including five-time Olympian Mary Onyali, Austin Eguavoen, and respected professor of sports science Ken Anugweje.
Other notable members include Dr. Kweku Tandoh, business magnate Tonya Lawani, and former African long jump champion Yusuf Ali.
Academic members include Prof. Florence Adeyanju, Prof. Clement Fasan, Prof. Raimi Moronfolu, and Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi, whilst media representation comes through Michel Abbah of SWAN and Godwin Enakhena.
Shaibu emphasised the need for financial independence, declaring, “The NIS needs to end reliance on government funding. We must get to a level where the NIS funds itself.”
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