By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
Alausa, Dikko unveil sports, education excellence programme
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has unveiled the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a national initiative to integrate quality education with elite sports development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This was disclosed in a release signed by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, following the presentation in Abuja.
Dr Alausa described the programme as one of the most transformative reforms in the education sector, saying it would produce athletes who also become coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists and administrators, building human capital that outlasts competitive careers.
He said N-SEEP ends the long-standing choice between academic excellence and sporting success, enabling students to pursue world-class education alongside high-performance training.
The initiative will also develop a skilled workforce for sports medicine, rehabilitation, coaching, technology and event management, stimulating entrepreneurship and job creation.
Nine tertiary institutions which have been selected to host Sports and Education Centres of Excellence are: the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Benin, University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Muhammad Buhari University Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Federal College of Education Okene, and Babcock University.
The first phase begins this year at Ibadan, Zaria, Okene and Babcock, with each institution establishing a Faculty of Sports Science.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, called for flexible academic calendars to accommodate student-athletes, while Dikko said the Commission was strengthening sports infrastructure and engaging FIFA and CAF for global accreditation of sports academic programmes.
Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade cited Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and China as models of nations built on integrating education with athlete development, urging swift implementation.
Dr Alausa thanked President Tinubu for his leadership and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining the programme through strategic partnerships and investment, ensuring every talented Nigerian child has the opportunity to learn, compete and excel.
“This is a national investment in our future… we will build a safer, stronger and more prosperous Nigeria through education and sports,” he said.