NIS launches an eight-week summer core coaching program in Uyo

The National Institute for Sports (NIS), in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, has announced plans to launch an eight-week summer grassroots coaching program in Uyo as part of efforts to strengthen the development of grassroots sports and improve the quality of training across Nigeria.

The programme, which is expected to bring together aspiring and practicing coaches from different parts of the South-South region, is part of the institute’s wider strategy to expand access to professional sports education through its zonal centres. Project reports

The initiative is designed to provide participants with modern coaching knowledge and practical skills that can enhance the development of athletes at grassroots and elite levels.

Bringing coaching education closer to Nigerians

According to the National Institute for Sport, the training program is in line with its statutory mandate to promote the development of sport through quality education, technical training and skill development.

The institute explained that Akwa Ibom State falls under the South-South Zonal Centre, headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, a facility established to decentralize coach education and make professional sports training more accessible to people across the region.

Officials noted that the zonal approach is intended to eliminate geographic barriers that often prevent aspiring coaches from accessing professional certification programs organized by the institute.

Participants will receive hands-on training

The eight-week program will expose participants to the theoretical and practical aspects of sports training.

The training modules will cover the fundamentals of sports training, practical training techniques, organization of training exercises, exercise planning, athlete development and competition management.

Organizers said the curriculum has been carefully designed to equip participants with the knowledge needed to effectively organize training sessions, develop athletes and manage sports competitions in line with global coaching standards.

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of participation and completion from the National Institute for Sport.

The program is aimed at a wide range of stakeholders

The institute revealed that the coaching program is open to football coaches, grassroots coaches, sports academy coaches, youth leaders, retired athletes, club coaches, sports administrators and graduates seeking careers in sports coaching.

He added that the program is also suitable for people with a passion for sports development who want to gain a solid foundation in athlete training and management.

According to the organizers, the expanded participation will help strengthen the country’s coaching workforce and improve talent identification and development at the grassroots level.

Shaibu reaffirms commitment to grassroots sports

The program is organized under the leadership of the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

Since assuming office, Shaibu has continued to highlight the importance of expanding coach education as a key pillar for sustainable sports development in Nigeria.

The institute said it remains committed to strengthening grassroots sports through strategic partnerships with state football associations, sports organizations and other stakeholders, while ensuring that every geopolitical zone benefits from professional coach training.

According to the statement, the Uyo program reflects the institution’s determination to produce highly qualified coaches capable of nurturing the next generation of Nigerian athletes.

Building the future of Nigerian sport

Sports development experts have consistently argued that coaching quality remains one of the most important factors in discovering and cultivating athletic talent.

Through initiatives such as the Summer Basic Coaching Programme, the National Institute for Sport hopes to fill existing knowledge gaps by exposing coaches to contemporary coaching methods and internationally recognized best practices.

The institute believes that strengthening training capacity at the grassroots level will ultimately improve athletes’ performance, improve sports administration and contribute to Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional, continental and global competitions.

Interested participants have been encouraged to register for the programme, while further details regarding the start date and registration process will be communicated by the National Institute for Sport.