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Philip Shaibu Seeks Stronger Public-Private Partnership to Revive Nigeria’s Sports Sector
The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, describing such partnerships as vital to transforming Nigeria’s sports industry and accelerating national development.
Shaibu made the appeal on the second day of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Exhibition Workshop in Abuja, where he stressed that meaningful cooperation between government and private organisations is essential for unlocking the country’s economic potential through sports.
“Thank you for bringing all of us together to have a handshake. That is what we need for our country, and that is what will help us. At the National Institute for Sports, we have consistently advocated collaboration between government and the private sector because it is critical to the growth of our economy. It is time for us to change our mindset,” he said.
Highlighting the institute’s renewed direction, Shaibu declared that the NIS has been revitalised after more than five decades of inactivity.
“Today, the NIS is back to life after 52 years. If NIS works, Nigeria will work, but if NIS fails, Nigeria will eventually fail,” he stated.
He described sports as a major economic driver capable of addressing some of Nigeria’s biggest socio-economic challenges, including unemployment and insecurity.
“Sports is the new oil well, whether you like it or not. If we develop sports properly, unemployment will become a thing of the past, while insecurity, if not completely eradicated, will be greatly reduced,” he said.
According to Shaibu, with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Institute for Sports has established operational centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and is on track to expand its presence to all 36 states by the end of next year.
He urged Nigeria to prioritise the development of homegrown sporting talent rather than merely watching other nations compete on the global stage.
“We don’t need to remain on social media discussing other countries at the FIFA World Cup. We should also be there. It is time for us to change our mindset, and programmes like this help set the tone,” he said.
Shaibu also appealed to private organisations and educational institutions to partner with the institute in tackling the country’s shortage of certified coaches.
“We are having a shortage of coaches in Nigeria. Many Physical and Health Education teachers in our secondary schools are not certified coaches. Coaching does not end on the streets; coaches must be properly trained and certified,” he said.
He explained that the NIS is currently training certified coaches who will, in turn, mentor schoolchildren under the institute’s grassroots sports development programme being implemented in partnership with schools nationwide.
Shaibu noted that public perception of sports has changed significantly over the years, with more parents now encouraging their children to pursue sporting careers, unlike in the past when participation in sports was often discouraged.
He urged parents and guardians to enrol their children in NIS programmes, expressing confidence that sustained investment in grassroots talent development and quality coaching would restore Nigeria’s status as a dominant force in global sports.
With proper planning and structured talent development, he said, Nigeria would no longer struggle to qualify for major international tournaments but would once again emerge as a global sporting powerhouse.
“Register your children and wards for NIS courses and be part of Nigeria’s sports success story,” Shaibu urged.
