By Danjuma Amodu
In Nigeria’s bid to end decades of reliance on foreign experts and build a self-sufficient sports ecosystem, the National Institute for Sports on Tuesday unveiled the country’s first certified Medical Director for marathon races.
The milestone came as Director-General Philip Shaibu renewed calls for urgent coordination between the Institute, the National Sports Commission, and the Nigeria Football Federation to reposition the sector.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Shaibu decried what he described as a “dangerous disconnect” among the three main parastatals recognised in the sports sector, warning that the absence of joint planning was undermining President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sports.
“Among the agencies recognised by the constitution, through various bills, are the NSC, NIS, and the NFF,” Shaibu said. “These are the three main parastatals in the sports sector, especially with the suspension of the Federal Ministry of Sports. Other bodies are federations, except the NFF, which is recognised as a parastatal.”
He noted that since his appointment as NIS DG, there had been no major inter-agency meeting to align strategies. “It appears as though we are only aware of each other through the media, when you hear that the NSC is doing one thing and the NIS is doing another,” he said.
Shaibu disclosed that several attempts to convene a joint session had yielded little, though a breakthrough had been recorded with the NFF. “Just last week, we had a breakthrough meeting with the NFF. We are now almost 90 per cent aligned, and our technical teams are already working together,” he said. “But this is not the case with the NSC. We have reached out, but the responses have not been encouraging.”
Despite the setback, he insisted the NIS would press on with its mandate. “We will continue to do what is necessary as an institute to ensure Nigeria retains its top position in sports in Africa as mandated by President Tinubu,” Shaibu added.
The NIS boss also called for the immediate constitution of the NSC board, arguing that the Commission can not be run lawfully by only its Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Bukola Olopade. “It is against the law, and the process of constituting the board must begin immediately,” he said. “Without a board, it is like a governor or president operating without a legislature. The board must be constituted for sports to be effectively managed and to ensure proper checks and balances.”
He described his role as both administrator and watchdog. “When I was appointed as DG, I said I would volunteer myself as a watchdog in this space to ensure everyone is doing the right thing. I will continue to speak out because I have a passion for sports, both as a sportsman and as someone committed to giving back,” he said.
The press conference also served as the platform to present Dr Sam Ogbondeminu, Nigeria’s first certified medical director for marathon races. Shaibu said the milestone ends decades of dependence on expatriates for gold-label events like the Okpekpe Road Race.
“For a long time, we have not had a Nigerian certified as a medical director for marathon races. Today, we now have one,” Shaibu announced. “He recently returned from Spain, where he completed physical training after concluding his online sessions.”
He stressed that without such certification, Nigeria could not independently stage World Athletics-accredited marathons. “It is both sad and alarming that, until now, we did not have any Nigerian with this certification. This is another reason the NSC board must be constituted to address issues like this and others affecting the sector,” he added.
In his remarks, Dr Ogbondeminu thanked the NIS and other stakeholders for their support and pledged to deploy his expertise whenever required.
The NIS, established to train coaches, sports scientists, and administrators, is currently implementing a 10-year strategic reform plan that includes overhauling its curriculum and integrating modern sports science. The push for synergy comes amid federal efforts to reposition sports as a driver of youth empowerment, job creation, and foreign investment under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with emphasis on reducing reliance on expatriates and building local technical capacity across federations.
