Minister of education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa has disclosed that the new National Sports & Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP) will help Nigeria produce talented athletes who can equally become successful innovators and entreprenuers along with their careers.
Sports247 reports that Alausa, who launched the programme together with National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Mallam Shedu Dikko, added that N-SEEP is a landmark initiative to integrate quality education with elite sports development.
Alausa further stated that the programme, which he further described as one of the most transformative reforms in Nigeria’s education sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, will help to position sports as a major driver of economic growth and national security.
A press statement by the minister’s special adviser on media and communications, Attah Ikharo further revealed that the Federal Government has already detailed nine tertiary institutions to host National Sports & Education Centres of Excellence to power the programme.
The selected institutions are University of Ibadan; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Federal College of Education, Okene; Babcock University, Ilishan; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Benin; University of Jos; Muhammad Buhari University, Maiduguri; and Federal Polytechnic, Offa.
Phase 1 will commence at University of Ibadan, ABU Zaria, FCE Okene and Babcock University; ahead of which each institution will establish a faculty for courses in coaching, sports medicine, sports science, sports technology, data analytics, sports business, facility management, event management and sports administration.
“The future of sports lies not only in winning competitions, but in developing people. Through this initiative, we are producing athletes who will also become coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists, administrators, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators,” Alausa added.
Sports247 reports further that Dikko also affirmed that the newly introduced programme combines two important national priorities in Nigeria’s reforms, as it will create an ecosystem where athletes can access quality education and world-class training without leaving the country.
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