The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has called for a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to strengthen sports education and build a skilled workforce for Nigeria’s growing sports sector.
Director-General of NIS, Philip Shaibu, made the appeal during a visit to NELFUND headquarters, stressing the importance of financial support in training aspiring coaches and sports professionals. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Ben Ogbemudia, Shaibu noted that the institute’s mandate centers on capacity building and human resource development in sports.
“We are here to partner with NELFUND. They have a key role in developing coaches and building the workforce needed in the sports sector,” he said.
Shaibu recalled that the institute once attracted trainees from across Africa for coaching and sports administration but suffered setbacks due to years of neglect and mismanagement. He, however, credited the current administration for revitalising the institution.
“President Bola Tinubu has restored life to NIS, the engine room of sports development in Nigeria. What was missing was vitality, and that has now been restored,” he added.
According to him, efforts are underway to reposition the institute in line with global standards, guided by a 10-year strategic plan developed through consultations with stakeholders, past management, and private sector players.
He highlighted key reforms, including the decentralisation of NIS operations across the six geopolitical zones, improved structures, and growing collaborations with state governments and private organisations.
Shaibu also pointed to financial challenges faced by students, particularly in paying tuition, revealing that the institute currently allows installment payments as a temporary measure. He said collaboration with NELFUND would provide a more sustainable solution through access to education loans.
Responding, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, commended Shaibu’s leadership and expressed readiness to support the institute.
He emphasized the need to engage young people productively through sports, noting that NELFUND is prepared to extend its loan framework to support students in the sports sector, just as it does in other fields.
“I am excited about this visit and look forward to a fruitful collaboration,” Sawyerr said.
The proposed partnership is expected to expand access to sports education, empower young talents, and reposition Nigeria’s sports industry as a key driver of youth development and economic growth.