•‘Nigeria will produce marathon champions soon’

Director General of the Nigeria Institute for Sports (NIS), Phillip Shaibu, has explained that the management of the institution decided to decentralise its operations to enhance its effectiveness in producing world-class athletes and coaches.
 
The former Edo State deputy governor also revealed the institute’s plans to make Nigeria one of the countries competing for top laurels in long-distance races at major international championships.
 
Speaking after announcing NIS’ scholarships for the top Nigerian finishers and their coaches at the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race at the weekend, Shaibu said that the country has all the ingredients it needs to produce world-class road runners, adding that a well-planned programme in a conducive environment will bring out the best in local road runners.
 
He said: “Since I came in, we have been able to expand the NIS. We now have zonal offices in all six local zones in Nigeria.
 
“We have the South-South Zone in Benin; we have the North-Central Zone in Jos, the South East in Enugu, South-West in Abeokuta, the North West in Kaduna and the North East in Adamawa.”
 
He said that the first three Nigerian finishers at the Okpekpe Road Race, who are from Plateau State, have been awarded scholarships, alongside their coaches, as part of the 10-year roadmap incorporated into the athlete development unit of the NIS.
 
“The Abuja office is the athlete development centre, and these athletes will constitute the first set in the unit.
  
“As I have always said, Nigeria has no business in celebrating bronze or silver in the Olympics if we actually prepare these young ones properly.
 
“The target I’ve given them is that at next year’s Okpekpe Race, the dollar has to be shared. Some of them will remain in Nigeria, if not all. They can’t be coming here and taking our dollars. That will stop soon.”
 
The NIS boss said that the school will meet with the parents of the athletes to explain its plans for them and get a guarantee that they will combine sports with their education.
 
“We must have an agreement with their parents, and other issues will be taken care of by NIS.
 
“Don’t forget that I took over many players while I was deputy governor of Edo State. I told you the story of Imade Osarenkhoe, whom I picked after watching him in a novelty match.
 
“I ensured that he went to the University of Benin, graduated as an engineer and for two seasons, he was the top scorer in NPFL. He is now playing outside the country.
 
“I was watching one of my girls the other day in Roma as they beat Juventus.
 
“What we will do is go to the grassroots, pick promising athletes, talk to their parents and groom them into stars.”
 
Shaibu acknowledged the various challenges his management has faced since it started reorganising the NIS, adding, however, that they have been able to surmount all obstacles with the support of President Bola Tinubu.
 
“Some people are struggling to hold onto what they don’t have expertise in. The NIS is the only agency in sports that deals with the training of athletes, training of manpower for the sport ecosystem, training of coaches and even referees.
 
“Our offices are technically structured for these programmes.”