NIS delegation commends Kwara sports facilities

A delegation from the National Institute for Sports (NIS), led by its Registrar, Mr Belmond Benson, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of sports facilities in Kwara State, saying the infrastructure and the state’s sporting potential could support the establishment of an NIS office.

In a statement signed by Ben Ogbemudia, Special Adviser on Media to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NIS, the delegation said the inspection tour was aimed at assessing the suitability of sports facilities across Kwara for coaching education, sports training and other professional programmes of the institute. Blueprint reports

Speaking during the visit, Benson said the NIS, under the leadership of its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Comrade Philip Shaibu, was committed to developing the capacity of coaches, sports administrators and other sports personnel, while identifying and nurturing talents capable of representing Nigeria at national and international competitions.

He commended the Kwara State Government for investing in sports infrastructure, particularly the indoor sports hall, swimming pool and other facilities undergoing renovation.

According to him, the facilities inspected indicated that Kwara could become the first state outside Lagos to host an NIS office, subject to the necessary arrangements and approvals.

He, however, emphasised the importance of maintaining the facilities to ensure their long-term usefulness, noting that an NIS presence in the state could encourage their regular use through structured training programmes and professional development activities.

The visit forms part of efforts to assess opportunities for expanding access to sports education and strengthening the development of coaches and athletes beyond the institute’s existing operational base.

NIS targets wider access to professional sports training

Benson said the institute’s mandate extended beyond the training of athletes to include the professional development of coaches, sports administrators and other personnel responsible for sports management and talent development.

He commended Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his commitment to sports development and praised Shaibu for efforts towards bringing the institute closer to sports stakeholders in the state.

According to the registrar, the availability of suitable facilities in Kwara could support the delivery of specialised programmes, helping sports personnel improve their technical knowledge and professional skills.

He also highlighted the state’s grassroots sports initiatives, particularly the involvement of children as young as three to five years in sporting activities.

Benson said early exposure to sports and the identification of promising talents were important to building a sustainable development system capable of producing athletes for future national and international competitions.

He noted that identifying sporting abilities at an early age, when supported by appropriate coaching and training, could help create a pathway for young athletes to develop their potential.

The proposed NIS presence in Kwara would therefore offer an opportunity to connect grassroots participation with structured coaching and professional sports education.

NIS office to benefit teachers, game masters

Also speaking during the inspection, Dr Remu Majoroh expressed satisfaction with the facilities visited, noting that the infrastructure would provide a suitable environment for sports training and development.

Majoroh said establishing an NIS office in Kwara would make professional training and certification more accessible to game masters, physical and health education teachers and other sports personnel working in primary and secondary schools.

He explained that many of these personnel had to travel to Lagos, Abuja or other states to access specialised training opportunities.

An office in Kwara, he said, could reduce the burden of travelling long distances and make it easier for sports educators and practitioners to acquire relevant professional knowledge.

Such training would also equip teachers and game masters with the skills to identify, guide and nurture promising athletes from an early age.

The development could strengthen the connection between schools, grassroots sports programmes and more advanced training structures, particularly if professional education is made accessible to personnel working across different parts of the state.

For Kwara, the potential benefits extend beyond the provision of a new institutional office. Access to professional coaching education could help improve the quality of instruction, strengthen talent identification and promote more organised participation in sports at school and community levels.

However, the proposed establishment remains subject to the necessary arrangements, as the delegation’s assessment and expressions of interest do not in themselves constitute a formal announcement that an office has been approved or established.

Kwara seeks to host major national team fixtures

In his response, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to consider staging major national team fixtures in the state.

Mogaji specifically mentioned qualifying matches involving the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, arguing that Kwara had facilities capable of accommodating high-profile football encounters.

He said hosting such matches would provide an opportunity to showcase the state’s sporting infrastructure and attract football supporters and visitors.

Major national team fixtures can also generate wider interest in football, create opportunities for local businesses and expose young players to the atmosphere surrounding elite-level competition.

Mogaji further highlighted Kwara’s grassroots football structure, which includes under-13, under-14, under-15 and under-16 teams, as well as a youth league designed to develop players for higher levels of competition.

The structure, he said, provides a foundation for identifying and nurturing young footballers as they progress through different age categories.

A stronger link between grassroots competitions, professional coaching education and national-level opportunities could help support the development of young players in the state.

His appeal to the NFF also reflects Kwara’s interest in attracting major football events and increasing the use of its sports facilities for competitions beyond local and state-level activities.

Any decision to stage Super Eagles or Super Falcons fixtures in the state would, however, rest with the relevant football authorities and depend on the applicable venue, operational and competition requirements.

Sports infrastructure and grassroots development

The inspection highlighted the relationship between sports infrastructure and the availability of trained personnel capable of using facilities effectively.

While modern facilities provide an important foundation for sporting activities, sustained development also depends on maintenance, professional coaching, structured competitions and opportunities for athletes to progress.

Benson’s emphasis on maintaining the inspected facilities points to the importance of ensuring that public investment in sports infrastructure translates into regular use and lasting benefits.

The proposed NIS office could help address the training component by providing a more accessible route to professional education for coaches, teachers, game masters and sports administrators.

Combined with Kwara’s grassroots programmes, such training could support efforts to identify promising athletes, improve coaching standards and establish clearer development pathways for young participants.

The state’s under-age football teams and youth league provide one example of how organised grassroots competition can help prepare players for more demanding levels of the game.

Similarly, introducing professional sports education closer to schools and communities could strengthen the role of teachers and game masters in identifying talents who might otherwise remain undiscovered.

These opportunities would require continued collaboration among the NIS, the Kwara State Government, the Sports Commission, schools and other relevant stakeholders.

Proposed office could serve Kwara and neighbouring states

If realised, the proposed NIS office would bring professional sports training opportunities closer to practitioners in Kwara and potentially benefit personnel from neighbouring states.

The initiative aligns with the institute’s stated commitment to expanding access to sports education, improving coaching capacity and supporting grassroots talent development under Shaibu’s leadership.

It could also reduce the costs and logistical challenges associated with travelling to distant locations for training and certification.

For the institute, expanding its presence beyond its established base would provide an opportunity to reach more sports personnel and strengthen professional development at the state level.

For Kwara, the prospect of hosting an NIS office complements its investment in sports facilities and its efforts to develop athletes through organised grassroots programmes.

The delegation’s visit has therefore opened discussions around the possible use of the state’s infrastructure for professional sports education, although the next steps will depend on the necessary institutional arrangements.

As the state continues to pursue opportunities to host major sporting events and develop young athletes, the proposed NIS office could become an additional avenue for strengthening coaching, school sports and talent development if the plan receives the required approval.