• Promises revival of sports sports excellence
By JOE APU
The newly appointed Director of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu on an official visit to the Lagos campus, has pledged a sweeping reform agenda aimed at restoring the institute to its rightful place as a centre of sporting excellence in Africa.
Speaking during a facility inspection on Monday, the DG described the NIS structures as “solid but poorly maintained” and emphasised the need for a complete overhaul to meet international standards. He said the directive handed to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to implement a total reform in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” the Director noted. “But the good news is that the structures are still strong. What we need is a comprehensive renewal – not just cosmetic, but deep-rooted reform that addresses infrastructure, training curriculum, welfare of staff, and the general system.”
The Director General, who has a background in sports development and policy, stated that his approach would be different from past administrations, which made similar promises but delivered little. Citing Ezekiel 37 from the Bible, he likened the state of the institute to dry bones that could be revived. “This place is not as bad as the valley of dry bones. If there’s a will, then there’s a way. With commitment and teamwork, this place will work again,” he declared.
During the tour, the Director engaged with staff and students and promised broader consultations to understand the challenges they face. “We are not just inspecting buildings. I will meet with staff, management, and students to hear their perspectives and chart a new course. Collaboration is key,” he said.
He hinted at the possibility of pushing for legislative amendments to give NIS more autonomy and funding flexibility. “To get the kind of results we want in sports, certain bureaucratic bottlenecks must be addressed. That may include changes in policy and funding structure,” he added.
Addressing concerns about staff welfare, the Director said it would be a central part of the reform process. “You can’t drive excellence when your workforce is demoralised. We’ll look at welfare, training, and performance incentives as part of the broader reform.”
In response to a question about the poor budgetary allocation to NIS, he acknowledged that reliance on ministry funding alone was inadequate to transform the institute. He said the management would explore new funding models and partnerships, both locally and internationally, to improve the institute’s capacity and global competitiveness.
He concluded by assuring stakeholders of transparency, results, and an open-door policy.
“This is not about talk. It’s about results. We’re not inventing a new vision; we’re here to implement and renew what already exists. And with the support of the staff, the media, and all stakeholders, we’ll bring NIS back to the top.”