Education is key to sports development – Dikko
loo
The National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko has reiterated the critical role education plays in sports development. He was speaking as a special guest at a meeting of the Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education with the Honourable Minister of Education Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa.
He was invited to address the meeting by the Honourable Minister of Education in furtherance of the ongoing collaboration between the NSC and Ministry of Education to revive and advance school sports in Nigeria as one of the key pillars of sports development.
While describing schools as essential hubs for talent identification, nurturing, and growth, Mallam Dikko noted that integrating structured sports programs into educational institutions creates an environment where young people can excel both academically and athletically, thereby contributing to the nation’s sports ecosystem.
His words, “Mr. President is very interested in grassroots sports development and indeed sports development. We have to align with Mr. President’s vision for sports and be deliberate in this bottom to top development of sports.
“There should be sports programs deliberately integrated into our educational curriculum that will enable students to excel in sports while also not negating their academic pursuits. The schools are solid catchment areas for talents because you will get athletes who are both physically and intellectually balanced.”
The NSC Chairman also outlined plans to ensure that sports programs within educational institutions are no longer carried out in isolation including the creation of centre of excellence within the school structure on a pyramid level.
He pledged that the Commission will collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education to provide the necessary support at all levels, enabling schools to serve as a foundation for sustainable sports development.
These efforts will include facilitating access to resources, building institutional capacity, and fostering long-term strategies to integrate sports into the academic framework.
In conclusion, Dikko enjoined the gathering to sustain the engagement and ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page while doing what is required of them to advance the program’s objectives
Prof. Aliu Mamman, Chairman Representative of Rectors (Polytechnics), expressed gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Education for initiating the collaboration and to Mallam Shehu Dikko for his active involvement as special Guest.
He highlighted the upcoming NIPOGA Games later this year as a significant opportunity to showcase the results of this collaboration. He reaffirmed the commitment of Polytechnics to advancing youth development through sports.
