By Aderonke Ojo
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), H.E. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has pledged to champion accountability and reforms in Nigeria’s sports administration, stressing that those appointed to manage the sector must justify the confidence reposed in them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Shaibu made the remarks while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents’ Chapel during a courtesy visit, noting that many of the journalists present were familiar faces from his years in public life.
He said those entrusted with leadership roles in sports administration must live up to expectations and work to improve the sector rather than exploit it.
“We need to give back to sports, not take from it,” adding that he would not allow the old culture of poor management to continue under his watch.
According to him, he is prepared to speak out against any irregularities within the sports system and take necessary steps to address them.
“I can assure you that I will not be here as one of the sports managers and allow the old order to continue. Whenever there are abnormalities in sports, I will speak about them, write about them and stop those involved at all costs. I am here not to take from sports but to give my best back to it,” he stated.
The immediate past Edo State Deputy Governor also said he had earlier committed himself to voluntarily holding sports administrators accountable in order to ensure that the vision of the Federal Government for the sector is achieved.
He explained that President Tinubu had given a clear mandate for Nigeria’s sports institutions to become centres of excellence capable of positioning the country as a dominant force in global competitions.
“If we fail in this mission, it is not President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that failed. It is those of us appointed to run sports, Shehu Dikko, Olapade, Philip Shaibu and the various presidents of sports federations,” he said.
Shaibu urged Nigerians to hold sports administrators accountable for their performance rather than blaming the President for any shortcomings in the sector.
“If Nigeria’s sports do not perform well, don’t call the President, call us, the appointees, to account,” he said.
He also noted that the leadership of various sports federations must take responsibility for the performance of their teams, citing football and basketball as examples.
“In football, call the President of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau. In basketball, call Musa Kida. They are responsible for making their teams better,” he added.
Shaibu commended both the Presidency and the National Assembly for their commitment to sports development, particularly in the area of budgetary support.
According to him, sports administrators must demonstrate transparency and accountability in the management of public funds allocated to the sector. “NIS is going to set the stage for accountability and financial discipline,” he said.
He further emphasized the need for innovative thinking in sports development, noting that the sector should not depend entirely on government funding.
“Sports do not wholly require daily funding from the government. What the government needs to do is put facilities in good condition so that the private sector can come in and thrive,” Shaibu explained.
Drawing from his experience in Edo State, he said the model had worked successfully during his years in government and could be replicated at the national level. “I have tried it before and it worked in Edo for six years. It can work at the national level,” he said.
Shaibu revealed that since assuming office at the NIS, the institute had begun strengthening partnerships with state governments hosting its zonal centres, adding that the early efforts were already yielding positive results.
Using an analogy, he said effective collaboration was essential for progress in sports administration. “A phone needs a SIM card to function. We must stop the blame game. Every appointee of the President must step up and deliver on their mandate,” he said.
He also disclosed that staff members at the NIS were now being encouraged to contribute ideas that could help reposition the institute.
“Today, every employee in NIS is coming up with ideas on how the institute can grow. No idea is considered irrelevant. Every effort could be the turning point,” he said.
Speaking on the role of the media, Shaibu acknowledged the importance of journalists in strengthening democratic accountability, noting that the responsibility of keeping the public informed remains crucial.
“You are journalists. You write what you see and know. That is why some people are afraid to open their offices to you. When they do and you see what is happening, you will write about it,” he said.
He added that a strong and responsible media is vital for the survival of democracy. “If democracy fails, journalists will be among the first casualties,” he said.
Shaibu also reflected on his past experiences as a pro-democracy activist who participated in street protests against bad governance, stressing the need to protect democratic institutions for future generations.
He assured the visiting journalists of the readiness of the National Institute for Sports to partner with the NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel in promoting sports development and accountability in the sector.
The NIS boss further reiterated his position that the use of the main bowl of national stadiums across the country for political rallies and religious programmes must be discontinued in order to preserve the facilities for sporting activities.
