…As Shaibu, Enabulele Roll Out 2026 Sports Master Plan
Edward Oseghe
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Hon. Philip Shaibu, has disclosed plans to commence full operations of the NIS South-South Zonal Office in Benin City, Edo State, as part of efforts to deepen professionalism and talent development across the region.
Shaibu made this known on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, where he formally briefed the commission on the institute’s operational roadmap for the zone.
In his address, Enabulele welcomed Shaibu and commended his role in repositioning sports administration in Edo State. He praised the NIS boss for strengthening the institute’s visibility, structure and public perception.
“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 Edo State Sports Commission would work closely with the NIS to ensure the zonal office functions effectively and supports all regional programmes.
During the engagement, Enabulele unveiled the Commission’s 2026 activity calendar, which places strong emphasis on grassroots development and institutional capacity building. According to him, the first quarter will focus on training programmes for coaches, technical officials and sports administrators to enhance professionalism across the sector. He also confirmed that Edo State will host the Niger Delta Sports Festival from February 20 to 27, 2026. The festival, organised by Dunamis Icon Limited and funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), will focus on under-19 athletes and grassroots talent discovery.
Further outlining the calendar, Enabulele said the Edo Racket Games will take place in April, featuring all racket sports, while the Governor’s Cup in May will encourage wider participation among private schools. Gender inclusion will be promoted through partnerships with marathon organisers and a “Women in Sports” tournament scheduled for June. Preparations are also underway for participation in the National Youth Games, aimed at identifying young athletes for national representation.
The third quarter, he noted, will spotlight combat sports with the “Battle of Champions” tournament running between July and September, alongside the Edo State Sports Festival and continued involvement in the National Youth Games.
Activities in the fourth quarter will include the Benin City Marathon, projected to become one of Nigeria’s largest road races, participation in the Intermediate Games in Lagos, and a comprehensive year-end review to strengthen future planning.
In his remarks, Shaibu stressed the importance of structured talent development and professionalism, referencing the Federal Ministry of Sports’ directive to phase out uncertified coaches nationwide. He said continuous education for coaches and organised holiday programmes for children are critical to sustainable sports growth.
“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.
He added that the zonal office will be equipped with workstations for coaches and administrative staff, while a state-level committee will supervise coordination and programme delivery. Shaibu further disclosed that six NIS zonal offices have been created nationwide, with Edo already ready for take-off. He said Ogun and Enugu are at advanced stages, while Kaduna, Adamawa and Plateau have been identified in the North, with Plateau scheduled for activation next week. Kano and Kwara, he added, already possess infrastructure suitable for state-level offices.
On staffing, Shaibu revealed that 150 personnel have been recruited, with additional recruitment planned for the second and fourth quarters of the year. He noted that induction for administrative staff begins next week, while postings are expected by early February. Zonal training programmes, he said, will commence in the second quarter.
He also announced a three-week NIS crash course for degree holders in physical education and human kinetics, after which participants will be deployed to zonal centres.
Shaibu further unveiled a 10-year strategic plan for the institute, which prioritises the strengthening of zonal and state offices, expansion of certificate and diploma programmes, and a long-term transition of the NIS into a university-level institution.
The engagement concluded with both officials restating their resolve to work closely together, pledging that all necessary facilities, frameworks and coordination systems would be established to guarantee the smooth take-off and effective operation of the NIS South-South Zonal Office in Edo State.
