By Jacob Ajom
Thursday 21 March, 2019  was a special day in the life of Nigeria’s premier sports institute, the National Institute for Sports. In it’s 25 years of existence, the institute on that day performed its 7th Convocation, the first since 2005. 1,500 students were conferred with certificates, diplomas and higher diplomas on the occasion. It was an event that restored hope in both the graduands and the students and dignity to the school.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung (left), presenting a souvenir to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the minister’s courtesy visit to the governor at Government House in Benin City, Edo State capital.

For an event that was billed to start at 10 a.m, the graduating students satrted poring into the venue, the NIS Multipurpose Hall, National Stadium, Lagos as early as 8 a.m. The students could be seen taking group photographs in their academic gowns. Some making final preparations to ensuring they “It is a special day. We thought it would never happen because since 2005 that I graduated I am yet to experience this,” said Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, Chioma Ajunwa.

Ajunwa charged the school’s management team to improve. “This is the highest sports institute in the country that has produced a lot of coaches that have contributed immensely to the development of sports in the country. Any coach in Nigeria that did not pass through the school is not acceped outside this country. So management ought to be up and doing and don’t keep students for long periods before holding convocation.”

Another graduate, Jumai Mohammed said, “Today is a happy day for me and my colleagues because we have waited for so long for this event. With this convocation, we now have our certificates and have something to show that you actually graduated from this school. It will enhance our chances in the labour market, even outside the country.”

Mohammed was one of the lucky student who didn’t need to wait for long before the convocation. She rounded off her programme in 2018. On this she said proudly, “we were the set that brought an end to the long wait. We broke the jinx and ushered in a new era in the life of the school.”

Former Bendel Insurance striker, Mfon Bassey said, after one’s active days as a footballer it was only desirable that one pursued a coaching or sports management career. “Without a certificate one is doomed,” the former 3SC and Nigerdock player said. That was why he said he cherished the events of that day.”I consider this day special in my life. I came here to acquire knowledge and it would show in the way I work and the result will also prove that the school actually impacted greatly on me.”

Bassey said government must try and improve its support for the school. “Right now they are trying but the school deserves more. Poor power supply has been one of the biggest problems in the school. It frustrates the students efforts to read,” Mfon, a 2016 graduate said

Director of the NIS, Dr Eke Kingdom Chukwudi was the happiest man to have “broken the 14-year jinx.” He felt proud of his management team and the support he got from the governing board of the school led by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima. He was also appreciative of the contributions of corporate Nigeria in the realisation of his major breakthrough since assuming office a few years back.

The director looked to the future with renewed optimism.

Said the Director, “Accreditation of the institute by the Board for Technical Edication is in progress and when that happens, our graduates would be recognised and accepted anywhere they go.”

The director also appealed for improved funding for the institute by the federal government while also appealing to the corporate organisations to do more for the school. “I appeal to corporate bodies to give back to the society, the excess profits they record annually. Supporting the NIS would be a welcome development.”

The Chairman of the governing board, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima said his board would not rest on its oars as it was working for a  review of the school curriculum in order to make it more encompassing in the training of modern day coaches.

On his part, Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung said he was jinx breaker whose tenure has seen him revive the country’s sporting traditions. “First it was the National Sports Festival which could not hold for several years, we were able to stage a very successful festival at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja last year, today it is the NIS holding its convocation after 14 years. I share the joy of the students and the graduands, some who have waited for 14 years for this event.

“I must emphasise that we must endeavour to keep some of these laudable sporting traditions we inherited..”

He recalled that the NIS came about through an initial collaboration between Nigeria and the Institute for Sports of Germany. It has since been abandoned but we are going to revisit that partnership agreement, dust it, with a view to reviving it. We also have an existing collaboration with the University of Johannesburg.” He promised that a team will soon visit South Africa pursuant to revisiting the collaboration.

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“I have told the chairman of the governing board that he has no time to spare. He has to work 24/7 to ensure this institute works again,” the minister said.

Dalung also said that the NIS would go into collaboration with friendly institutions of higher learning in Nigeria in order to enhance its course content in to achieve their vision to “be a first class institute transforming Nigeria and sustaining it as a world leader in sports.