National Sports Institute, Pledges Sports Revival, Establishment of Zonal Centre in Enugu

By Ikemefuna Asika

As part of the decentralization of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu visited the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah at the Enugu State government house (Lion Building), Enugu.

Comrade Shauibu who is on a working visit to Enugu State, congratulated Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for the state’s choice as the South East Zonal Center for the National Institute for Sports.

“In line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we carefully assessed the records and found Enugu most suitable to host the NIS South East Zonal Center. Everything is already falling in place with the President’s vision for national sports revival.”

The NIS Boss and former Edo State deputy governor, also commended the Governor for his outstanding transformation of Enugu, describing the state as one of Nigeria’s fastest-developing capitals. 

“This shows that you have attracted traffic to Enugu State, It shows that you represent our generation and inspire confidence in leadership” Shuaibu remarked.

Speaking further, the NIS Director General stressed that the institute remains the engine room for producing and nurturing athletes in Nigeria but had suffered over two decades of neglect.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us the mandate to bring sports back to life and restore it to what it used to be in Nigeria,” Shaibu said.

He added that the NIS will require temporary office space and a training facility as plans advance toward the full establishment of structures and curriculum for elite athlete training and development.

Governor Dr. Peter Mbah in company of Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government (SSG); Barr. Victor Udeh, Chief of Staff to the Governor while welcoming Shaibu and his management team, expressed delight at the choice of Enugu as the zonal center. 

He described the initiative as “timely and visionary,” noting that sports have a vital role to play in the social and economic growth of the nation.

“If we must create world champions, we must train and nurture athletes intentionally, it will not happen by accident,” the Governor said.

Governor Mbah assured that his administration will provide the necessary logistics and facilities to support the establishment of the zonal center.

“We are a government that believes that wherever you live, rural or urban, you should have access to quality infrastructure and opportunities,” he added.

The former Edo State deputy governor was accompanied by top NIS directors and sports development experts, who presented a 10-year strategic plan outlining the objectives and roadmap for the South East Zonal Training Center, a plan Governor Mbah described as “forward-thinking and complementary to the state’s vision.”

The collaboration between the National Institute for Sports and Enugu State Government is expected to strengthen the foundation of sports development across the South East, producing athletes who will compete globally and uphold Nigeria’s sporting legacy.

The NIS DG also visited Nigeria football legend, Emmanuel Okala (MON).