FG Launches National Sports And Education Excellence Programme To Develop Athletes, Boost Education
The Federal Government has launched the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a landmark initiative aimed at integrating quality education with elite sports development to nurture globally competitive athletes while equipping them with academic qualifications and professional skills.
The programme was unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the unveiling, Dr. Alausa described N-SEEP as one of the most transformative reforms in Nigeria’s education sector, designed to ensure that talented young Nigerians no longer have to choose between academic excellence and sporting success.
According to the Minister, the initiative will establish Sports and Education Centres of Excellence in selected tertiary institutions to provide a structured pathway for discovering, developing and retaining sporting talents while preparing them for careers in coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, administration, entrepreneurship and research.
He said the programme would also strengthen national cohesion, create employment opportunities, reduce youth involvement in crime and position sports as a key driver of economic growth.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described N-SEEP as a landmark reform that would redefine the relationship between education and sports by providing flexible academic structures that support student-athletes.
Also speaking, NSC Chairman Mallam 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 Commission is expanding sports infrastructure, coach education and professional certification while engaging international bodies, including FIFA and CAF, to secure global accreditation for sports related academic programmes.
Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the initiative goes beyond producing medal winning athletes by creating a sustainable pipeline of coaches, sports scientists, educators, researchers and sports administrators needed to drive a modern sports industry.
The Federal Government announced that nine institutions have been selected to host the National Sports and Education Centres of Excellence. They include 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 of implementation 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 be brought on stream in subsequent phases.
Each participating institution will establish a Faculty of Sports Science offering internationally benchmarked programmes in coaching, sports medicine, rehabilitation, sports technology, data analytics, facility management, sports business and administration.
Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the successful implementation of the programme, describing N-SEEP as a legacy reform that will transform education, strengthen sports development and empower future generations of Nigerians.
