The National Institute for Sports (NIS) Lagos and the Benue State Football Association have signed a landmark agreement for the training of grassroots coaches in Benue State.
The signing of Mou which took place at the NIS in Lagos was the outcome of long held discussions between the officials of the Benue State Football Association and the management of the NIS.
Speaking on the decision to collaborate with the NIS, chairman of the Benue State Football Association, Barrister Paul Edeh said he was excited that the long standing discussions held with NIS since last year has become a reality. He expressed gratitude to God that what started last year has become a reality.
Speaking on the occasion, Director-General National Institute for Sports, Professor Olawale Moronkola re- emphasized the need to go back to the grassroots especially primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to harness the abundant talents that abound in the country.
He said this agreement will address the challenges of out of school youth at community level; catch them young to harness the mass of Sports talents especially in football for skills development.
He lauded the Benue FA chairman for keying into the NIS window of opportunity to achieve the purpose of training the grassroots coaches.
Barrister Edeh expressed appreciation to the DG for creating an enabling environment for all Nigerian grassroots coaches to be certified.
He also commended the DG for changing the face of NIS since he assumed duty.
The training of grassroots coaches which commenced last year in Lagos State has attracted interest from some other states across the country.
The agreement was signed by the DG and the Benue FA chairman in the presence of the Registrar of NIS, Belmond Benson, Dr Sunday Odior, Barrister Istifanus Ganda Abari, Jeremiah Kuhwa, the President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Benjamin Isaiah and other top members of his executive.