The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has called for increased funding for the Institute, declaring that Nigeria’s quest for sustained sporting excellence depends on urgent and strategic investment in sports development.
Speaking today at the National Assembly during the NIS budget defence session, Shaibu described the Institute as “the lifeline of sports development in Nigeria,” emphasizing its pivotal role in training the manpower that drives the country’s sports ecosystem.
“Our mandate is clear — to train the manpower that powers our entire sports ecosystem and to promote sports from the grassroots,” Shaibu stated. “However, vision alone is not enough. To achieve meaningful impact, we must back our commitment with adequate funding.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s ambitions for consistent success at both local and international competitions cannot be realized without strengthening the institution responsible for developing coaches, sports administrators, and technical personnel.
“If Nigeria truly desires sustained success at local and international competitions, then we must invest strategically in the institution responsible for developing our coaches, sports administrators, and technical personnel,” he said.
Shaibu also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the House Committee on Sports for their continued support of the Institute, while reiterating the urgent need for the constitution of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Board.
According to him, the establishment of the NSC Board will provide the “strategic direction and institutional stability required to reposition the sector for long-term growth.”
The DG/CEO lamented that persistent underfunding has significantly constrained the Institute’s ability to expand its presence across states and enhance nationwide visibility.
“Persistent underfunding has limited our expansion across states and reduced our nationwide visibility. This must change,” he declared.
He further noted that the NIS is aligning with global best practices and intensifying grassroots sports development efforts but warned that such ambitions must be matched with adequate budgetary provisions.
“We are aligning with global best practices and strengthening grassroots development, but we need a budget that reflects our vision and mission,” Shaibu added.
Reaffirming his commitment to repositioning Nigerian sports for excellence, he concluded with a call for collective action: “Together, we can reposition Nigerian sports for excellence.”
The appeal signals a renewed push to prioritize sports development as a national agenda, with the NIS positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to build a sustainable and competitive sports ecosystem in Nigeria.
