The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has pledged to partner with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents’ Chapel to promote grassroots sports development, strengthen accountability in sports administration and reposition Nigeria’s sports sector.
Shaibu gave the assurance in Abuja while receiving members of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel during a courtesy visit aimed at exploring areas of collaboration between the media and sports institutions
Welcoming the journalists, the NIS Director General said the institute was committed to building strong partnerships that would support talent discovery and institutional development in the country’s sports ecosystem.
According to him, the media plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability in sports administration.
“You are journalists; you write what you see and what you know. That is why some people are afraid to open their offices to you. When they do and you see what is happening, you will write about it,” Shaibu said.
He stressed that those entrusted with leadership positions in sports must justify the confidence reposed in them by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“If Nigeria’s sports do not perform well, don’t call the President; call us, the appointees, to account,” he stated.
Shaibu added that the NIS under his leadership would promote accountability and reforms in the management of sports institutions across the country.
“I am here not to take from sports but to give my best back to it. Whenever there are abnormalities in sports, I will speak about them and stop those involved,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Felix Ojo, who led the delegation, commended the Director General for what he described as visible reforms and transformation within the institute since he assumed office.
Ojo said journalists had closely followed the institute’s initiatives, including the establishment of zonal programmes designed to strengthen sports training and manpower development across Nigeria.
He explained that the Correspondents’ Chapel was seeking partnership with the institute to promote grassroots sports development and talent discovery.
According to him, the chapel plans to organise a basketball competition among secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to identify young sporting talents.
“We want to collaborate with your institution in talent development. This year we are planning a basketball competition among secondary schools in the FCT and we hope to work with the institute and relevant federations to make it successful,” Ojo said.
NUJ member Princess Joy Idam also highlighted the importance of grassroots competitions in discovering young athletes across the six area councils of the FCT.
She explained that the proposed tournament would involve two government schools and one private school from each council, bringing the total number of participating schools to 18.
According to her, the competition would create opportunities for sports federations to identify talented athletes for various age-grade competitions.
Idam further suggested that the proposed collaboration should include periodic novelty sports matches between journalists and staff of the institute, covering football, badminton, table tennis and swimming.
Shaibu also reiterated his commitment to protecting Nigeria’s sporting infrastructure, stressing that national stadium facilities should not be used for political rallies or religious programmes.
He disclosed that the institute would soon establish a task force to stop the misuse of stadium facilities in order to preserve them for sporting activities.
“Our core mandate is to strengthen institutions because when institutions are strong, both the strong and the weak will be protected,” he said.
The NIS Director General further assured the journalists that the institute would organise a guided tour of sports facilities within the stadium complex to give the media deeper insight into ongoing reforms and the challenges facing the institution.
He expressed optimism that collaboration between the media and sports administrators would help reposition Nigeria as a hub for sports development, tourism and youth empowerment.(Portfolio media)
