We are verifying, revalidating certificates of coaches fo effective performance - Comrade Shaibu

We are verifying, revalidating certificates of coaches fo effective performance - Comrade Shaibu

The National Institute for Sports (NIS) says it plans to verify and revalidate certificates of coaches across the country for effective performance as well as to eradicate quackery in the coaching ecosystem.

‎‎The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, H. E. Comrade Philip Shaibu disclosed this when the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) paid a courtesy visit on his office at the NIS Building, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

‎‎According to Comrade Shaibu, the institute has cleared its data bank and will embark on verification and revalidation exercise in order to weed out quack coaches who parade themselves as NIS alumni.

‎‎"The coaching gaps that we have in this country are over 2 million. When you go to most schools- primary, secondary and tertiary institutions those so-called coaches are not coaches. More than 60 to 70 percent of them are not certified coaches. Why? Because NIS was not working.

‎"So , we have designed a programme now, very soon and all those who have NIS certificates will be coming to do verification because we want to clean up our data bank and now put up those that are actually NIS certified. By so doing, employers don't need to reach us to know who has passed through the NIS or who had the certificate overnight night."

‎‎The DG/CEO while addressing the ASURI delegation assured that he is poised to deploy research in solving the numerous challenges faced by the NIS.

‎‎"If there are no challenges, there will be no need for research. So for me, the Research Institute is one of the critical sectors that we must look at.

‎Since I got here, I have seen that there are more problems than I thought. But the good news is that there's no problem that cannot be fixed. And that is where research comes in. Solutions are only attained when there are issues and how to deal with them.

"‎I met NIS at its lowest point and I'm happy that you know NIS before, even more than I do. You already analyzed NIS for just a shadow of itself. For me, leadership is not about to lament. A leader looks for solutions. And that is why when I came here with the mandate given by the president, to bring it back to life."

‎‎The immediate past deputy governor of Edo State said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Agenda is deliberate and interested in using sports to unify Nigeria, diversify the economy and empower the teeming youth in the country. So all hands must be on deck to ensure that sports work and that will only be possible if the NIS is working optimally.

‎‎Speaking on behalf of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), Secretary General of the Union, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, FCSS, FULI congratulated Philip Shaibu on his appointment as the DG/CEO of the National Institute for Sports. He expressed confidence that Shaibu's distinguished background as a high-performance deputy governor of Edo State and first hand experience in sports will reflect in his activities in the institute.

‎‎"ASURI is confident that your antecedents as a Comrade in the struggle have prepared you adequately to relate with your staff, empathize with their welfare/career expectations and carry the union along in your Management.

"‎Comrade DG, we believe that under your leadership, the NIS will not only reclaim its lost glory but also become a hub for producing champions and driving sports development across the nation. ASURI pledges its support and collaboration in this transformative journey."

‎‎The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions' delegation on the visit was led by its National President, Dr. Kasim Izebe. Others include Comrade Toye Fawole, Director Corporate Intelligence and Comrade Nosakhare Ogbomo.