NIS DG Seeks NELFUND Partnership to Strengthen Sports Education, Workforce Development
Oru Leonard
The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has called for a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to enhance sports education and build a skilled workforce in Nigeria’s sports sector.
This is contained in a statement signed by Shaibu made the appeal during a visit by the NIS management to NELFUND, highlighting the fund’s potential to support aspiring coaches and sports professionals through accessible financing.
He noted that NIS, established in 1974, was once a hub for training sports personnel across Africa but suffered years of neglect. He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for revitalizing the institute and restoring its role as a driver of sports development.
According to Shaibu, the institute is undergoing reforms guided by a 10-year strategic plan developed with input from stakeholders and a 32-member committee. Key initiatives include decentralization across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, strengthened partnerships, and a renewed focus on grassroots sports.
He also identified financial constraints faced by students, stressing the need for collaboration with NELFUND to provide structured loan support for tuition.
Responding, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Oluwale Sawyerr, commended Shaibu’s leadership and expressed readiness to support the institute through educational financing and partnerships aimed at youth empowerment.
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging sports as a tool for skills development, employment, and national growth.
