NIS To Launch South-South Zonal Office In Benin ...As Enabulele Pledges To Cooperate With Shaibu














NIS To Launch South-South Zonal Office In Benin 

...As Enabulele Pledges To Cooperate With Shaibu

By Editor 

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Rt.Hon.Comrade Philip Shaibu has reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling the core mandate of the institute decentralization and raising qualified coaches and sports administrators in order to close the  wide deficit in the country.

The NiS boss and former deputy Governor of Edo State restated this on Thursday, January 22 when he paid a working visit to the Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele .

He said that he was in Benin to formally brief his state Sports Commission chairman on plans for the commencement of operations of the NIS South-South Zonal Office in Benin City, Edo State and to seek his cooperation in his quest to deliver on the mandate to make NIS more effective and accessable by all Nigerians in the sports community.

Comrade Shaibu revealed that six NIS zonal offices have been created nationwide.  According to him, Edo, Ogun and Enugu are the three states housing Southern Nigeria's zonal offices.

  " NIS has come to stay in Edo.We need your cooperation in ensuring all facilities, structures, and coordination mechanisms are in place for the successful launch of the NIS South-South Zonal Office in Edo State."

Hon. Shaibu emphasized on talent development and professionalism, noting that efforts are being made  to outlaw uncertified coaches. He highlighted the importance of continuous training for coaches and structured sports programmes for children during school holidays. Shaibu also announced plans to train coaches and elite athletes, including non-literate participants, with NBTE approval for programmes.

“Edo State will host more coaches and athletes than most states due to its status as the South-South Zonal Office. Full operations will begin in February,” Shaibu said, adding that the office will feature workstations for coaches and staff, with a state-level committee overseeing coordination.

He outlined a three-week NIS crash course for degree holders in physical education and human kinetics, after which participants will be posted to zonal centers. Shaibu also revealed a 10-year NIS strategic plan, prioritizing zonal and state offices to offer certificate and diploma programmes which will eventually progress into a university-level institution.

According to the NIS boss, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Plateau have been identified in the North, with Plateau set for activation next week. Kano and Kwara already have infrastructure for state-level offices. He revealed that recruitment of Staff has started with about 150 recruited personnel, with a plan to have additional 500 in the second and fourth quarters. Zonal office training programmes will begin in the second quarter, with induction for administrative staff next week and postings by early February.
" For us to be able to fully start school sports,we need a minimum of 2.5 million coaches", Shaibu said.
Receiving the NIS boss, The Edo State Sports chairman commended Comrade Shaibu for his contributions to the transformation and growth of the Edo State Sports Commission . He particularly praised his efforts to giving the NIS the visibility, structure the  professional institution has presently.

“I sincerely appreciate Hon. Philip Shaibu for choosing Edo State as the host of the South-South Zonal Office of the National Institute of Sports. This will significantly boost sports development;capacity building, and professionalism in the state and across the region,” Enabulele said. 
He assured that the Commission would collaborate  with the NIS to ensure they get supports in terms of facilities in the all zone.

 Enabulele seized the opportunity to intimate the NIS boss with the Edo State Sports Commission’s 2026 development programme. He revealed that the first quarter will focus on capacity-building for coaches, technical officials, and sports administrators to enhance professionalism. Edo State will also host the Niger Delta Sports Festival from February 20–27, 2026, organized by Dunamis Icon Limited and funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with a focus on under-20 athletes and grassroots talent development.

According to the programme, the  third quarter will spotlight combat sports with the “Battle of Champions” tournament from July to September, alongside the Edo State Sports Festival and to continue with National Youth Games participation. The fourth quarter will feature the Benin City Marathon, projected to become one of Nigeria’s largest, alongside the Intermediate Games in Lagos and a year-end review of activities to strengthen future planning.

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