The Director General/CEO of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), H.E. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has reiterated the critical role of the Institute in repositioning Nigeria’s sports sector, describing it as the “engine room” needed to drive sustainable development.
Shaibu made this known after the regular Tuesday and Thursday keep-fit exercise while receiving the Rudder Sports Management team, led by its President, Emmanuel Omijeh, at his office in Abuja.
He aligned the renewed focus on sports development with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the President’s passion for sports is evident in key appointments and policy direction aimed at revitalizing grassroots sports.
“Mr. President is a sports lover, just like many of us who follow football across different leagues weekly. Because of his deep interest in sports and grassroots development, he appointed a Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports to help nurture the next generation of athletes who will sustain Nigeria’s sports,” Shaibu said.
Describing the NIS as central to this vision, Shaibu lamented years of neglect that, according to him, stalled progress in the sector.
“You cannot start a car without an engine. The Nigerian sports sector went on holiday because the engine room, the NIS was neglected. Without building from the grassroots, there can be no sustainability,” he added.
The former Edo State Deputy Governor stressed that sustainable sports development must begin at the grassroots level, where young talents are discovered, nurtured, and developed into professionals.
Highlighting a major challenge in the system, Shaibu decried the lack of post-career planning for athletes, describing it as a “pandemic” that must be urgently addressed.
“We have seen too many retired athletes without anything to fall back on. Going forward, we must institutionalize exit plans for athletes at least two years before retirement. This will include training in coaching and sports management so they can transition smoothly,” he stated.
He further emphasized the need to create a culture where athletes are prepared for life after active sports, ensuring continuity within the system.
“We must maintain a pattern of training our players to become coaches after retirement so they can sustain the traditions of their various sports,” he said.
Drawing from personal experience, Shaibu recounted his contributions to sports development during his time in Edo State. He spoke about rehabilitating retired athletes by integrating them into the Edo State Sports Commission and empowering them for self-reliance.
He also shared a success story of talent discovery, recalling how he identified Imade Osarenkhoe during a novelty match at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
“He was a 100-level student when we signed him for Bendel Insurance. We paid his school fees, and he went on to graduate and serve with the club. For two seasons, he was the highest goal scorer in the Nigerian league, and today he is playing in the UAE, where he also emerged top scorer in his first season,” Shaibu said.
According to him, beyond sports, players under his watch were exposed to business ideas to help them invest wisely and secure their future.
“I know what we suffered as players, and I wouldn’t want the next generation to go through the same. Collaboration remains key to moving our sports forward,” he added.
Earlier, President of Rudder Sports Management, Emmanuel Omijeh, outlined the organization’s sports facilities and its vision to develop structured university sports systems across the country.
He noted that the initiative is designed to complement, not conflict with, the mission and vision of the NIS, adding that consultations with relevant stakeholders are already underway.
Ben Ogbemudia,
S. A. Media,
Office of the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, National Institute for Sports,