National Institute of Sports (NIS) Director General, Philip Shaibu, has set up an advisory committee, which he believes will help to reposition the school as a globally competitive institution.
 
The high-powered advisory committee comprising some of Nigeria’s most accomplished minds in sports, academia, corporate leadership, and media, he said, is tasked with charting a strategic pathway to reposition the NIS to deliver effectively on its core mandate and align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
 
In the committee are Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) president, Musa Kida, who is also the chairman of NNPC Ltd, one of Nigeria’s foremost sports marketers, Mike Itemuagbor, whose outfit, Padmozi Sports International is the convener of the yearly Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, former NUGA President, Professor Ken Anugweje, a respected professor of sports science, and Dr. Kweku Tandoh, a former Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission.
 
Also in the committee are some former internationals, including Mary Onyali, Yusuf Ali, who now serves as CEO of the NSC’s Elite Athletes Development Board as well as Coach Austin Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles head coach and ex-international.

Dr. Alex Mana, a retired international referee and respected sports administrator is also on the list which has seasoned academics like Prof. Florence Adeyanju, Prof. Clement Fasan, Prof. Raimi Moronfolu, and Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi, as well as media professionals such as Andrew Abbah (representing SWAN) and Godwin Enakhena.
 
According to a statement signed by NIS Registrar, Beldmond Benson, the committee’s mandate is to advise on a comprehensive repositioning strategy that will elevate the institute to world-class status, comparable to leading sports institutes globally.
 
This committee, which will be formally inaugurated on July 21, 2025, at the Awoture Eleyae Conference Hall, National Stadium, Lagos, according to Shaibu, is expected to deliver a blueprint that will guide the NIS into a new era—one defined by innovation, inclusivity, and international relevance.