NIS Charges coaches to Uphold Sporting Excellence

The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has urged coaches nearing the completion of their Basic Certificate course to resist shortcuts and embrace rigorous standards that give their qualifications real global value.
The call came from Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Comrade Philip Shaibu during an engagement with students at the NIS Abuja campus inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Commending the coaches for their discipline and conduct, Comrade Shaibu warned against rushing through the programme, even as holiday festivities approach.
“We are setting new standards, and those standards are our processes,” he said. “We must ensure that the academic calendar and programmes are followed exactly as approved. When you try to cut corners, it reduces the potency of your certificate.”
Shaibu stressed that the renewed NIS will not compromise on rigor. “No matter the inconveniences, it is better we are inconvenienced and the product of our sacrifice is worthwhile, and I’m sure none of you want to see all the time you have spent here wasted,” he added.
Aligning the institute’s mission with national priorities, Comrade Shaibu reminded the coaches that the NIS supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed-hope agenda, using sport as a powerful tool to engage youth across the country. He also emphasized the wider responsibilities that come with certification.
“You are our ambassadors,” he told the outgoing students. “You will be needed to train and mentor upcoming coaches, and you will be trusted to take up jobs even beyond Nigeria’s shores. We cannot hand you a half-baked education and expect you to teach others. That is why adherence to standards is non-negotiable.”
The DG’s message was both a charge and a pledge: the institute will maintain strict processes so its certificates are meaningful and internationally recognized.
The 2025 Basic Coaching Course is scheduled to conclude with a certificate presentation on Thursday, December 18, 2025.