National Institute for Sports (NIS) Director General Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu has urged basketball promoter and Mark D’ Ball Championship founder Igoche Mark to continue investing in the growth of the sport in Nigeria.
Shaibu backs private investment in basketball
Shaibu made the appeal on Monday in Abuja during Mark’s visit to the NIS, where he inspected basketball coaches taking part in a training programme funded by the championship promoter.
The NIS director general welcomed Mark’s support for the participants and said the institute remained committed to expanding public-private partnerships. He warned that Nigeria’s sports sector could not depend indefinitely on government financing alone, while describing the NIS as the central platform for strengthening the country’s sporting system through compulsory training and certification.
Former players prepare for coaching roles
Mark praised the improvements he observed at the institute and credited Shaibu’s record in sports administration for the progress. He said 20 former players were currently completing the programme to obtain the qualifications needed for international opportunities and positions at the planned Mark D’ Ball Academy.
The basketball promoter also said he wanted to build a stronger relationship with the NIS and work with FIBA on technical partnerships in the future.
- Twenty former players are enrolled in the current coaching programme.
- The trainees are pursuing credentials for international assignments and future roles within the Mark D’ Ball Academy.
- Mark plans to seek deeper cooperation with the NIS and FIBA on technical development.
NIS expands sports education nationwide
Shaibu disclosed that the institute had opened six additional centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones in an effort to make sports education more accessible.
- The centres in Lagos and Abuja will run degree-awarding programmes.
- Zonal facilities will provide diploma-level courses.
- State branches will be responsible for basic certificate training.
- Weekend courses have already been introduced, while executive online classes are scheduled to begin next year.
