In an ambitious initiative to enhance the National Institute for Sports (NIS) into a competitive global entity, Director General Philip Shaibu has established a high-level advisory committee featuring some of Nigeria’s most distinguished experts from sports, education, business leadership, and media. Insiders have referred to this committee as a stellar assembly, responsible for devising a strategic framework to reorient the NIS in order to fulfill its primary objectives and align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The committee’s structure is intentionally crafted to merge academic excellence, corporate strategy, technical sports expertise, and media perspectives, creating a unique opportunity to reshape the future of sports education and development in Nigeria. Among the members is Engr. Musa Kida, the Chairman of NNPC Ltd and President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, boasts extensive experience in both the oil industry and sports management. He is joined by Mike Itemuagbor, Nigeria’s leading sports marketer and CEO of Padmozi Sports International, who is recognized for establishing the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, the first of its kind in West Africa with a World Athletics label. The list also features Professor Ken Anugweje, a distinguished sports science professor and former NUGA president, known for his expertise in sports medicine and athlete welfare, as well as Dr. Kweku Tandoh, a prior Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission renowned for his strategic reforms and focus on grassroots development. Among the notable former Nigeria international athletes are Mary Onyali, a decorated five-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist epitomizing excellence, Yusuf Ali, a former African long jump champion and Olympian now leading the NSC’s Elite Athletes Development Board, and Coach Austin Eguavoen, a former head coach of the Super Eagles and ex-international who brings valuable technical knowledge and experience to the team. Dr. Alex Mana, a former international referee and esteemed sports administrator, is included on the list alongside experienced scholars such as Prof. Professor Florence Adeyanju. Professor Clement Fasan Raimi Moronfolu and Professor. Sadiq Abdulahi, along with media representatives like Andrew Abbah from SWAN and Godwin Enakhena, are part of the newly formed committee. A release by Beldmond Benson, the Registrar of NIS, states that the committee is tasked with providing guidance on a comprehensive strategy to elevate the institute to a world-class level, on par with top sports institutes around the globe. The Director General, Shaibu, emphasized his administration’s dedication to transforming the NIS into a premier center for sports education, research, and athlete development. This inauguration is particularly timely as Nigeria aims to leverage sports for youth empowerment, economic advancement, and enhancing its international stature. The committee will officially be inaugurated on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The Awoture Eleyae Conference Hall at the National Stadium in Lagos is anticipated to present a framework that will lead the NIS into a new phase characterized by innovation, inclusivity, and global significance. Here is the complete list of Committee members: 1.
