Shaibu Seeks NFF’s Collaboration To Accomplish 2-year Plan To bridge 2-million Coaching Gaps

FADEYI TOLULOPE AYOBAMI 

The Director General of the National Institute for Sports, His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu has unveiled a bold, two-year plan to bridge 2 million-coaching gaps in Nigeria sports, and thus effect a positive turn-around in the coaching sector in the country.

“We are here on a condolence visit to the NFF on the passing of former NFA chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima. He was a great leader nationally and within his State and also in his community, and these different levels will miss him dearly. We pray that God will grant his soul eternal rest and also comfort those he has left behind and the Nigeria football family in general.

“We are also here to seek the collaboration of the NFF in our mission to bridge two-million coaching gaps in the Nigerian sport system. A meticulous study provided us with this number. If we can accomplish this as planned, it will be a complete turn-around for the coaching sector in our sports.

“When we matriculated 232 students recently, we discovered that 117 of them are football coaches, a ratio of more than 50% – with the others spread across the other major sports. This further underlines the fact that ours is a football nation.”

Shaibu reiterated that the NIS was not alive to its purpose and responsibilities prior to his coming as the helmsman, and questioned the use to which previous leaders of the institute committed funds allocated to it in years gone by. Pledging full commitment to transforming the institute, Shaibu said he will go beyond rhetoric to ensure that the NIS lives to its profile of being modelled after the German Institute for Sports Science and the Australian Institute of Sports.

“Presently, we run basic certificate and advanced diploma courses, but we are working with the National Universities Commission to commence degree courses. We have also set off on decentralising the institute. Now, we have zonal offices in Yola, Kaduna, Jos, Enugu and Abeokuta, and are working on one in Benin City.”

He commended the Ibrahim Musa Gusau administration for both invisible but impactful reforms and visible legacy projects, including the ongoing NFF-FIFA Players Hostel and new training pitches.

President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON described the late Galadima as a father and leader, with whom he had a long discussion only two weeks prior to his passing.

“Alhaji Galadima was a mentor to so many of us in positions of leadership in Nigeria sports today. He was a man of dignity, diligence and integrity, and a lover of excellence as well. We will all miss him, including the NIS at which he was once the chairman of the governing council.”

On the collaboration sought by the NIS, Gusau said the NFF is ready to give the institute total support to succeed in its noble endeavour.

“You may be aware that this NFF administration, since inception, has taken the issue of improving our coaches to heart. We have organized a lot of coaching courses including a specific CAF C-License course for 30 women coaches, who will return for their B-License programme next year. We are also working hard to secure CAF’s approval to stage a CAF A-License course very soon.

“We will be ready to cooperate with, and collaborate with the NIS, for all your great targets and objectives. I advise that you meet with the Ministers and State Commissioners for Education in order to garner even more support for your objectives.”

While delivering the vote of thanks, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, a certified FIFA and CAF coaching instructor, advised the NIS to find space in its curriculum for a diploma course in sports administration.

At the occasion as well were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; NFF Director of Media & Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; NFF Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David; NFF Director of Finance & Admin, Mr. Rajan Zaka; Director of Marketing & Sponsorship, Mr. Alizor Chuks; Director of Protocol, Mr. Barnabas Joro and; Special Assistant to the General Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Ameenu.

From the NIS were Head of Administration, Dr Maryam Nasko; HOD Lecturing, Komolafe Sanjo; Head Coach, Jubril Yusuf; Consultant, Dr Remu Majoroh; Admin. Officer, Sikemi Oluwatayo; SA Media to the DG, Ben Ogbemudia and; principal private secretary to the DG, Aisha Adogah.