The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Adeboye, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, attended the passing-out ceremony of participants of the Basic Coaching, Fitness Facilitation and Grounds-manship Programme of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), held at the Athlete Development Centre, Package ‘B’, MKO Abiola National Stadium Complex, Abuja.
Hon. Adeboye was a special guest at the ceremony following an official invitation by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, underscoring the growing collaboration between the Presidency and key sports development institutions in Nigeria.
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Addressing the graduating participants, the SSA commended the NIS for its consistency in building technical capacity within the Nigerian sports ecosystem, describing the Institute as “the heartbeat of sustainable sports development in the country.”
“You are the foundation upon which our grassroots sports system will thrive. Coaches, fitness facilitators and groundsmen are not just support staff — you are nation builders,” Adeboye said.
He reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to grassroots sports under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that human capacity development remains critical to identifying, nurturing, and sustaining sporting talent across the country.
The SSA emphasized that well-trained coaches and sports professionals are essential to safeguarding athlete welfare, improving performance, and creating viable career pathways for young Nigerians.
“Sports development is not accidental. It is deliberate, structured and driven by knowledge. Today’s graduation represents hope for our communities and a stronger future for Nigerian sports,” he added.
Hon. Adeboye also praised the leadership of Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu for repositioning the National Institute for Sports as a centre of excellence in athlete and personnel development.
The ceremony marked another milestone in the ongoing efforts to professionalize grassroots sports in Nigeria, as graduates were charged to return to their communities and contribute meaningfully to national growth through sports.
