By Chigozie Chukwuleta
The Director General of the National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has announced a two-year plan to close a 2 million-coaching deficit in Nigeria’s sports sector, calling for collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation to drive the initiative.
Comrade Shaibu disclosed the plan on Sunday during a condolence visit to the NFF over the death of former NFA chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.
Describing Galadima as a national leader and former chairman of the NIS governing council, he said the late football administrator would be greatly missed at all levels.
“We are here on a condolence visit to the NFF on the passing of former NFA chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima. He was a great leader nationally and within his State and also in his community, and these different levels will miss him dearly”,
“We pray that God will grant his soul eternal rest and also comfort those he has left behind and the Nigeria football family in general”, he said.
He informed that part of the visit includes the institute’s desire to seek collaboration with the football governing body in one of their missions to bridge coaching gaps
“We are here also to seek the collaboration of the NFF in our mission to bridge two-million coaching gaps in the Nigerian sport system. A meticulous study provided us with this number. If we can accomplish this as planned, it will be a complete turn-around for the coaching sector in our sports.”
The administrator noted that football dominates coaching demand at the institute. Of 232 students recently matriculated at the NIS, 117 are football coaches — more than 50% — with the rest spread across other major sports.
According to him the figures further underlines the fact that Nigeria is a football nation.
Comrade Shaibu said the NIS had not lived up to its mandate before his appointment and questioned how past allocations were utilized. He pledged to transform the institute beyond rhetoric, modeling it after the German Institute for Sports Science and the Australian Institute of Sports.
He commended the Gusau-led NFF for “invisible but impactful reforms” and visible legacy projects, citing the ongoing NFF-FIFA Players Hostel and new training pitches.
Responding, the NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau described the late Galadima as a mentor to many sports leaders, recalling a discussion with him two weeks before his passing. “He was a man of dignity, diligence and integrity, and a lover of excellence as well,” Gusau said.
On the NIS proposal, Gusau confirmed the NFF’s readiness to partner. “You may be aware that this NFF administration, since inception, has taken the issue of improving our coaches to heart. We have organized a lot of coaching courses including a specific CAF C-License course for 30 women coaches, who will return for their B-License programme next year. We are also working hard to secure CAF’s approval to stage a CAF A-License course very soon.”
He advised the Director General to also engage Ministers and State Commissioners for Education to broaden support for the institute’s objectives.
NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, a certified FIFA and CAF coaching instructor, urged the NIS to introduce a diploma course in sports administration into its curriculum.
NIS current programs include basic certificate and advanced diploma courses, but the NIS is working with the National Universities Commission to begin degree programs. The institute has also started decentralizing operations with zonal offices now in Yola, Kaduna, Jos, Enugu and Abeokuta, and another planned for Benin City.
Present at the meeting were NFF 1st Vice President Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, NFF Director of Media & Communications Dr. Ademola Olajire, Director of Competitions Ms. Ruth David, Director of Finance & Admin Mr. Rajan Zaka, Director of Marketing & Sponsorship Mr. Alizor Chuks, Director of Protocol Mr. Barnabas Joro, and Special Assistant to the General Secretary Mr. Mohammed Ameenu.
The NIS delegation included Head of Administration Dr. Maryam Nasko, HOD Lecturing Komolafe Sanjo, Head Coach Jubril Yusuf, Consultant Dr. Remu Majoroh, Admin Officer Sikemi Oluwatayo, SA Media to the DG Ben Ogbemudia, and Principal Private Secretary to the DG Aisha Adogah.
Source/NFF Media
