By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has unveiled the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a landmark initiative that integrates quality education with elite sports development to produce globally competitive athletes, create jobs, strengthen national security and position sports as a major driver of economic growth.
Developed through the joint committee of the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the programme will establish eight National Sports and Education Centres of Excellence across selected tertiary institutions. The centres will provide a structured pathway for identifying, nurturing and retaining sporting talents while equipping them with internationally recognised academic qualifications and professional skills.
Speaking during the presentation of the committee’s report in Abuja, Dr. Alausa described N-SEEP as one of the Federal Government’s most transformative reforms, designed to bridge the long-standing gap between education and sports by enabling talented young Nigerians to pursue academic excellence alongside high-performance sports.
The Minister said the initiative extends beyond producing champions by developing a skilled workforce for the rapidly expanding sports industry. According to him, graduates of the programme will be equipped for careers in coaching, sports science, sports medicine, physiotherapy, sports technology, administration, research, facility management, media, entrepreneurship and other critical sectors.
Dr. Alausa noted that the programme would help curb youth unemployment, discourage crime and social vices, deepen human capital development and reduce the migration of talented athletes seeking opportunities abroad. He added that by building world-class sports institutions within Nigeria, the country would retain its talents, attract investment and unlock the enormous economic potential of the sports industry.
The Minister commended Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, the Director-General of the Commission, Bukola Olopade, members of the technical committee and other stakeholders for their commitment to the initiative. He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, for providing the leadership and policy direction that made the programme possible.
On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, described N-SEEP as a landmark reform that would redefine the relationship between education and sports by creating flexible academic structures that allow student-athletes to excel both in the classroom and on the field.
In his remarks, Shehu Dikko said the programme represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s quest to build a globally competitive sports industry anchored on education, innovation and strategic partnerships. He disclosed that the National Sports Commission is strengthening sports infrastructure, expanding coach education through the National Institute for Sports and engaging international bodies, including FIFA and CAF, to secure global accreditation for sports-related academic programmes.
Also speaking, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, described N-SEEP as a strategic reform that moves beyond the pursuit of medals to building a sustainable pipeline of coaches, sports scientists, researchers, educators and sports administrators capable of supporting a modern sports industry.
As implementation begins, the Federal Government announced that nine tertiary institutions have been selected to host the Centres of Excellence: the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Benin, University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Muhammad Buhari University, Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Federal College of Education, Okene and Babcock University.
The first phase will commence this year at the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Okene and Babcock University, while the remaining institutions will come on stream in subsequent phases.
Each participating institution will establish a Faculty of Sports Science offering internationally benchmarked programmes in sports science, sports medicine and rehabilitation, coaching, sports technology, data analytics, sports business, facility management, event management and sports administration. The initiative will also strengthen research, innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development across the sports ecosystem.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the successful implementation of the programme, Dr. Alausa described N-SEEP as a legacy reform that will transform education, reposition sports as an engine of economic growth and empower generations of young Nigerians to realise their full potential.
“The National Sports and Education Excellence Programme is more than a reform; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. Through education and sports, we are building a stronger workforce, creating opportunities for our youth, promoting national unity and laying the foundation for a safer and more prosperous nation,” the Minister said.
