By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Nigerian Government has inaugurated the new Board Members of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) with a view to providing effective governance and policy direction for the Institution in line with the enabling Instrument that established it.
The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, while inaugurating the Board in Abuja on Wednesday, called on them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realisation of the mission and mandate of the Institute.
Dare observed that the Institution was topmost in Africa for sports administration before it suddenly lost its glory, but expressed optimism that with the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to Sports development in the country as well as the appointment of seasoned Sports administrators into the new Board, “I believe the Institution will occupy its pride of place in Africa again”
He added that with the recent approval of the National Sports Industry Policy, (NSIP), which provides for private sector participation in Sports as a business and not mere recreation, the challenge of funding and other related issues concerning sporting activities in Nigeria, will soon be a thing of the past.
“Your role as a Board is explicit, to move National Institute for Sports in the direction of modality much beyond the reputation of NIS before now.” Dare added.
The Sports Minister explained that though efforts are ongoing to establish the first university of Sports in the country, the Institute till then, remains the nation’s Sports institution that needs credibility of examination process to ensure its certificate is fully recognised.
Dare noted that the Ministry has signed a Ten-Year Football Masterplan, which is aimed at addressing the fundamental anomalies that have plagued the development of football in the country, for the benefit of a broader strata of the society.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, called on the Board Members to partner with relevant institutions and stakeholders in order to realise the mission and vision of the Institute.
He assured that the Ministry will continue to support the Board to ensure that it succeeds in the discharge of its mandate.
Responding, the Board Chairman, Barrister Danladi Ibrahim, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, as well as top management staff of the Administration for the privilege given to them to serve, assuring that they will bring in their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realization of the Institute’s mandate.
The newly inaugurated board members are as follows-
i. Barrister Danladi Ibrahim – Chairman
ii. Major General Okpeh Wilson Ali – Member
iii. AIG Hafiz Inuwa – Member
iv. Lawrence Babatunde Aremu – Member
v. Dr. Fatima Kabir Umar – Member
vi. Boniface C. Odum – Member
vii. Salisu Mamman Aliyu – Member
viii. Ag. DCG Gregory A. Itohoh
ix. Prof O. A. Moronkola – Member
x. The Registrar – Member/Secretary
xi. Kunle Solaja – Member
xii. Commodore Omatseye Nesiama- Member
xiii. Mr. Awogbade Ayorinde Gbadebo.
