FG sets up Joint Committee to revive school sports

By Kunle Sanni

In a major step toward transforming youth development in Nigeria, the Federal Government has inaugurated a high-powered Joint Committee on Sports and Education aimed at integrating grassroots sports into the country’s academic structure.

The committee, a collaborative effort between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), was officially launched on Wednesday, May 29, in Abuja. Its goal is to reposition school sports as a national engine for talent discovery, youth empowerment, and educational reform.

Speaking at the inauguration, Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, emphasized the importance of identifying and nurturing young talent through an inclusive and sustainable system. “Through this program, and with the wisdom and coordination of this joint committee, we will ensure that every talented student-athlete has the opportunity to thrive — both in the classroom and on the field,” he said, citing global examples such as the Paris Olympics, where 38% of medalists were student-athletes.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, hailed the initiative as “a defining moment for education and sports in Nigeria.” He stressed the need to break the traditional separation between academics and athletics, saying, “Education is sports, and sports is education — there’s no delineation between both.”

The Joint Committee will formulate strategic plans for grassroots and school sports development across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. It will also oversee the creation of Sports Centres of Excellence in each of the six geopolitical zones and strengthen national collegiate competitions such as NUGA, NICEGA, NIPOGA, and the Principal’s Cup.

Dr. Alausa and Mallam Dikko both credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership in reviving the National Sports Commission and emphasized the role of sports in national unity and global competitiveness. They also acknowledged the President’s recent appointment of Mallam Dikko as NSC Chairman, calling it a move that brings “a fresh breath of ideas” to the sports sector.

Also present was the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, who highlighted the global relevance of the initiative. “If you look at other developed nations, most of their sports talents emerge through the school system. So, I think this is the right time to do this,” she noted.

The committee will be co-chaired by Dr. Alausa and Mallam Dikko, with members drawn from both ministries and the private sector. Its secretariat will be housed within the NSC, serving as the operational hub for planning, coordination, and inter-agency collaboration.