Abuja: The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, says the future of the institution lies in a robust public-private partnership model and a total structural reset. Shaibu said this in Abuja on Tuesday night at a reception organised in his honour by former colleagues from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He noted that his appointment by President Bola Tinubu came with a clear mandate to reform the NIS and revive the institute to its original vision of producing world-class coaches and sports professionals.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Shaibu emphasized that his mandate from the President is to implement total reforms and reposition the NIS to fulfill its core mission of producing excellent coaches for Nigeria and Africa. Shaibu, who has held positions as a deputy governor in Edo and as a member of the House of Representatives, pointed out that the institute had strayed from its foundational purpose. He explained that this deviation was evident in the deterioration of key facilities, such as the stadium, indoor hall, tennis courts, and administrative blocks of sports infrastructure. Shaibu stated that these infrastructures must first be rebuilt by the government before being handed over to the private sector for management.
Shaibu further added that the current bureaucratic bottlenecks in sports management had hindered growth, and that true progress could only be achieved through a more flexible and business-oriented approach. He cited the example of the Super Falcons' return to Nigeria from Morocco, highlighting the issues with government logistics planning. He lamented that the nation was forced to look for a private jet to bring the players back after their Women's Africa Cup of Nations victory in Morocco.
Reflecting on his previous roles in public office, Shaibu emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership. He recalled his time in the National Assembly, where he publicly disclosed the amount approved for constituency projects. He recounted that he made the N20 million constituency funds public and allowed his constituents to decide on its allocation. Shaibu stated that his performance in office was unprecedented, achieving 13 constituency projects in 18 months, a feat some members could not accomplish in eight years.
Shaibu expressed his intention to bring the same enthusiasm to his new role at the NIS, leveraging his experience as a multi-sports athlete and administrator. He revealed that he had spent the past weeks consulting with major stakeholders and developing a strategic direction for the institute. He mentioned that he had drafted a document named 'Roadmap,' a 10-year strategic plan aimed at repositioning the NIS to achieve its core mandate. A 32-member committee has been established to review and refine the document, which will involve a complete overhaul of the curriculum, removal of outdated courses, and incorporation of modern sports science into the training program.