Sports

Shaibu Commits to Renewed Hope Agenda at NIS

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The newly appointed Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has pledged to revitalise the institution and realign it with the vision of its founding fathers.

Shaibu made this commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko, and to the NIS office located within Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

He formally notified the Chairman of his resumption and expressed his determination to reposition the institute for greater impact.

He underscored the importance of collaboration and teamwork in achieving the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Nigerian sports sector.

“I am here to officially inform the Chairman of my assumption of office as Director General of the National Institute for Sports, following my appointment by Mr. President,” Shaibu stated. “I also wish to discuss areas of collaboration to help us fulfill the mandates set before us. Although we have been working towards this vision for a while, it cannot be fully achieved without a genuine passion for sports development.

“By working closely with Alhaji Shehu Dikko, I believe we can translate Mr. President’s Renewed Hope for sports into tangible results.”

In his response, Malam Dikko described Shaibu’s appointment as a perfect fit, commending his leadership qualities and past achievements.
“I am delighted to welcome my brother to the family. When he last visited, it was to congratulate us on our appointments. Today, he returns to join us in the mission to advance sports development in Nigeria,” Dikko said.

“We remain grateful to Mr. President for his continued support. The NIS plays a central role in building the human capacity required to transform our sports landscape.

“Shaibu’s passion for sports and his impressive track record make him the right person to lead the institute.”

After the meeting, Shaibu embarked on an inspection tour of the NIS facilities at the stadium, assessing the condition of training infrastructure and overall operational capacity. He identified areas that require urgent intervention and pledged to address them swiftly.

He reaffirmed his commitment to fostering teamwork and engaging stakeholders at all levels to achieve a complete transformation of the institute in line with its core mandate and national development goals.

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Sports

Leadership Boost: Dr. Nneka Anibeze Takes Helm as AFN COO

Published

3 hours ago

June 12, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

In a major boost for Nigerian athletics, Dr. Nneka Anibeze, a seasoned sports journalist and respected figure in the Nigerian sports community, has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The appointment was officially announced on Thursday in Abuja, shortly after the conclusion of the AFN elections.

AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa stated that the appointment aligns with the National Sports Commission’s broader objective to promote inclusivity and inject fresh, dynamic leadership into the federation’s administrative framework. Alongside Dr. Anibeze’s appointment, Kola Oredipe was named Auditor, with other professionals also appointed into key legal advisory roles.

Dr. Anibeze brings to the role a wealth of experience, leadership, and a proven track record of contributing to the growth of sports in Nigeria. Her appointment is widely seen as a strategic move to strengthen AFN’s operations, both domestically and on the international stage.

Stakeholders across the sports sector have hailed the appointment, expressing optimism that Dr. Anibeze’s knowledge, professionalism, and vision will help reposition Nigerian athletics for long-term success.

In her remarks following the announcement, Dr. Anibeze took a moment to appreciate the critical role of the Nigerian media in advancing sports development.

Speaking shortly after the election of the Nigeria Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS) representative into the AFN board, she described the media as “the most important stakeholder” in the sporting ecosystem.

> “The future of Nigerian sports is very bright,” she stated. “The media is the greatest stakeholder in sports. Without the media, it’s like blinking in the dark.”

Drawing from her extensive experience in sports journalism, Dr. Anibeze recalled covering iconic international competitions, including the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, where she reported on Nigerian legends like Fatima Yusuf, Mary Onyali, and Innocent Egbunike.

“Back then, sports coverage was occasional. Today, sports is big business—and the media drives that business. Without television rights, sponsorship deals, and live coverage, sports would not attract the massive investments it does today,” she explained.“The media makes sports visible, marketable, and profitable.”

Dr. Anibeze urged journalists and media organizations to continue championing the growth of Nigerian sports, stressing their responsibility in shaping narratives and driving positive change.

“Despite the challenges, I believe in the future of sports in Nigeria. With people committed to doing the right thing—and with the media actively involved—we will get there,” she concluded.

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