The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), His Excellency, Rt Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has officially handed over operational documents for the North Central Zonal Office of the Institute to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
The brief but symbolic ceremony took place during Shaibu’s visit to the state on Tuesday , marking a significant milestone in the ongoing revitalization and expansion of the National Institute for Sports across the country.
Speaking during the visit, Shaibu described his return to Plateau as a “homecoming,” recalling his political and academic roots in the state.
“I am happy to be back in Plateau again. For me, it is a homecoming. I am also delighted that after 52 years of establishing the NIS, under my stewardship, the Institute is now in Plateau State,” he said.
He noted that the expansion of the NIS beyond its traditional base was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to him, the Institute, which was originally established in Lagos, had remained largely centralized, with only an Athletes Development Centre in Abuja added over the years.
“It is not a coincidence that after 52 years, we are now moving from Lagos to Abuja and to the six geopolitical zones for the establishment of zonal offices of the NIS.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu broke the bureaucracy and gave me the mandate to bring the NIS back to life and restore its core mandate,” Shaibu stated.
He explained that the original vision for the NIS was to establish centres across states in the federation, but little progress had been made after the initial setup in Lagos and Abuja until the current administration intervened.
The immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State also commended Governor Mutfwang for his commitment to sports development in Plateau State. He said he had been aware of the governor’s interest in sports, including the stadium project and broader investments in the sector.
“When I compared your agenda for sports development with that of Mr. President, using sports for empowerment and economic diversification, I saw great similarities,” he said.
The NIS Boss further highlighted the core mandate of the NIS to the governor, emphasising capacity building, scientific training, athlete development, and repositioning sports as a tool for youth empowerment and national development.
“We have seen what you have been doing for Plateau United and sports generally. This evening, we are here to formally hand over the NIS document of engagement to Plateau State as the North Central Zonal Office. I am proud to be part of this history, and I am glad it is happening during your tenure as Governor,” Shaibu added.
In his response, Governor Caleb Mutfwang warmly welcomed the NIS delegation, describing Shaibu’s visit as truly a homecoming.
“Like I said earlier, welcome back home, because I know this is a homecoming for you. I am glad you are associated with the University of Jos and that you are an alumnus. Thank you for remembering home,” the governor said.
Governor Mutfwang revealed that when he first heard of Shaibu’s appointment as DG of the NIS, he questioned whether the Institute was still functional.
“When I first heard you were appointed, I asked, ‘NIS? Is it not dead?’ But what you have been able to achieve in less than a year is a testament to what young and energetic leaders like you can contribute to this country,” he said.
He noted that many Nigerian institutions had suffered years of neglect, stressing that leadership should not be a platform for complaints but an opportunity to make a difference.
“Nigeria is at a point where many institutions have collapsed due to neglect by past leaders. I believe leadership is not a platform for complaint; it is an opportunity to make a difference. I want to thank you for taking the bull by the horns,” Mutfwang stated.
The governor also reflected on the struggles of the nation’s founding fathers and shared his experiences with sports infrastructure during his time at a university in the United States. He emphasized that sports is deeply rooted in science.
“Sports is science. The end point of every sport is science,” he noted, underscoring the importance of structured training, research, and technical development.
Governor Mutfwang congratulated Shaibu for his foresight and commended him for selecting Plateau State as the North Central Zonal Centre of the NIS.
“Plateau is the home of athletes. There is no better place to train than Plateau because of its altitude,” he said.
The establishment of the North Central Zonal Office in Plateau is part of the broader effort by the NIS under Shaibu’s leadership to decentralize its operations and strengthen sports development nationwide.