By Gloria Ikibah
The Director-General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Philip Shuaibu, has stepped up calls for increased government funding, warning that the institute’s ability to drive meaningful sports development across Nigeria is being hampered by financial constraints.
Speaking during a budget defence session at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday, Shuaibu said the institute is determined to reposition itself as a key engine of growth within the country’s sports sector. 
He emphasised that the NIS plays a central role in training coaches, administrators and other professionals who form the backbone of Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem. However, he noted that limited funding continues to restrict the institute’s capacity to fully deliver on its mandate.
Shuaibu stressed that strengthening grassroots sports development remains a priority, as he argued that sustainable success on the national and international stage depends on structured talent identification and proper training at the foundation level.
He urged lawmakers to consider enhanced budgetary support to enable the institute upgrade its facilities, expand training programmes and better equip the next generation of sports professionals.
Hhe said: “Our mandate is to train manpower for the sports ecosystem and promote sports from the grassroots.
“But we cannot achieve this without adequate government funding. We need a budget that reflects our vision and mission to improve sports in Nigeria.”
The NIS boss commended President Bola Tinubu and the House Committee on Sports for their continued support but requested that the board of the agency be constituted speedily, as he said that it will play a critical role in revitalising the sector.
According to him, a properly constituted board will provide strategic direction and institutional stability necessary for long-term sports development.
Describing the NIS as the lifeline of sports development in the country, Shuaibu called for premium attention to the institute to enable Nigeria attain greater heights in local and international competitions.
He attributed the institute’s limited visibility across states of the federation to persistent underfunding, which he said has hampered its expansion and outreach programmes.
Earlier in his openingremarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Rep. Kabiru Amadu, decried the poor funding of the institute, describing it as a critical pillar in national sports development.
Amadu stressed the need for increased budgetary allocation to enable the NIS discharge its responsibilities effectively and pledged the committee’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to improve its funding for optimal performance.
The National Institute of Sports, established in 1974, serves as Nigeria’s premier training and research centre for sports development, with a mandate to produce qualified coaches, sports administrators, and technical personnel to drive excellence in the sector.
