DG, NIS, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu
By Ita Williams Akpan
The former international footballer, sports administrator, and Director General (DG) of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to enhancing sports education and coaching standards in Nigeria.
Speaking on Friday during the 2nd National Council of Sports Stakeholders Conference in Calabar, Shaibu dismissed claims that the NIS lacks proper certification, stressing that the institute is undergoing extensive reforms.
Responding to journalists, he said the institute has expanded its presence nationwide as part of ongoing restructuring efforts. “We are zonalising the NIS, and we have already covered four zones,” he stated.
According to him, facilities secured through partnerships with state governments have greatly enhanced the institute’s capacity to deliver training.
He noted that Abeokuta is fully ready, Enugu has made remarkable progress, and Adamawa is nearing completion. Edo State, he added, has the required facilities awaiting upgrades.
“Next week, we will be going to Plateau and Kaduna to complete the six zones in the country,” he said.
Shaibu explained that the decentralisation of NIS operations will take training to the grassroots. “The purpose is to take coaching and our training closer to the people, and that is the way to go,” he said.
He also disclosed that between 2028 and 2029, the institute will begin offering basic coaching courses at the state level.
He highlighted an ongoing curriculum overhaul that introduces new programs such as diving, scouting, and sports physiotherapy.
“We are redesigning everything to make sports what they ought to be. We must monitor players, their physiques, metabolism, nutrition, and performance. These tasks have always been the responsibility of the NIS,” he explained.
Shaibu lamented that some of these responsibilities had previously been neglected, contributing to Nigeria’s underperformance in international competitions.
However, he expressed optimism, noting that the new staff members are adjusting to the revitalised vision for the institute.
On the revival of Nigerian football, he stressed the importance of funding and private sector collaboration.
“We must put money into football, and the private sector must be involved. In Edo State, sports came alive through private partnership,” he said.
He further announced that the NIS is cleaning and reopening its certification database to ensure compliance with global standards.
“Any certificate not found in our database or on our website is not from NIS. We are standardizing our operations so that NIS certificates can be accepted worldwide,” he added.
