By George Ozalla
The Director General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Felix Ojo, have initiated moves for a strategic partnership aimed at promoting grassroots sports development, talent discovery and institutional collaboration in Nigeria.
The development followed a courtesy visit by a delegation of the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel led by Ojo to Shaibu in Abuja.
According to a press statement on the visit signed by the Secretary of the chapel, Henrietta Momodu, Ojo commended the Director General for what he described as visible transformation within the institute since he assumed office.
He said journalists had closely followed the reforms and developmental initiatives being introduced at the institute, including the establishment of zonal programmes aimed at strengthening sports training and manpower development across the country.
Ojo noted that members of the chapel had continued to report the institute’s activities both at the chapel and council levels, adding that the media would support initiatives capable of advancing sports development in the country.
He disclosed that the chapel intends to support the institute not only through responsible reporting but also through direct collaboration in sports development initiatives.
According to him, the chapel plans to organise sporting competitions among secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to identify and nurture young talents in line with the institute’s mandate.
He explained that the proposed programme will begin with basketball competitions and could expand to other sports in subsequent years, noting that the initiative would create a platform for sports federations to identify promising athletes for various age grade tournaments.
Ojo also proposed the introduction of periodic novelty football matches between members of the NUJ Correspondents Chapel and staff of the institute to strengthen professional relationships and promote sportsmanship.
He added that the proposed novelty match would extend beyond football to include other sporting activities such as badminton, table tennis and swimming to encourage wider participation and deepen collaboration between journalists and sports administrators.
Responding, Shaibu welcomed the proposed partnership and assured the journalists of the institute’s readiness to work with the chapel in advancing sports development.
He said the institute remained committed to strengthening sports institutions and improving manpower development through training, curriculum reforms and administrative restructuring.
Shaibu stated that the institute was implementing several reforms aimed at reviving sports training and repositioning the country for greater achievements in sports administration and talent development.
He also reiterated plans to protect sports facilities across the country, noting that the institute would soon set up a task force to halt the use of national stadium facilities for political and religious activities.
According to him, the move is intended to preserve sporting infrastructure and ensure that the facilities remain suitable for sporting purposes.
