In a renewed drive to revive Nigeria’s sports sector and harness its potential for national development, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has expressed its commitment to collaborate with the National Institute for Sports (NIS). The move is part of a broader strategy to promote physical well-being, national unity, and youth empowerment through structured sports initiatives across the country.
The commitment was made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Mr. Phillip Shaibu, to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, July 2, 2025.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, General Musa described the partnership as timely and strategic, emphasizing the vital role of sports in addressing some of the country’s most pressing social challenges, including youth restiveness and insecurity.
According to General Musa, the consistent decline in Nigeria’s sports performance over the years is more than just a matter of medals or international recognition—it reflects missed opportunities in fostering unity, engaging young people meaningfully, and strengthening the social fabric of the nation.
“The role of sports in youth engagement and national development cannot be overemphasized,” the CDS stated. “When we allow our sporting institutions to decline, we not only lose out on national pride and international recognition, but we also forfeit a powerful tool for keeping our youth constructively engaged. The consequences of this are visible in rising restiveness and insecurity.”
He stressed that the military understands the transformative power of sports—not just in physical fitness, but also in building discipline, teamwork, resilience, and unity among individuals from diverse backgrounds. According to him, these are values the Armed Forces also stand for, making the partnership with NIS a natural and productive alliance.
On his part, Mr. Phillip Shaibu, Director-General of the NIS, lauded the Defence Headquarters for its willingness to collaborate, adding that the Institute is eager to leverage the discipline, structure, and reach of the military to promote grassroots sports development.
Shaibu emphasized that reviving Nigeria’s sports culture will require multi-sectoral collaboration, with the military playing a key role in training, infrastructure, and community engagement. He also noted that beyond physical development, sports can serve as a vehicle for national healing, peacebuilding, and youth entrepreneurship.
The partnership is expected to yield joint training programs, support for national sporting events, and outreach campaigns to promote youth involvement in sports at both grassroots and elite levels. It will also explore ways to incorporate sports as a rehabilitative and reintegration tool for at-risk youth, including those in conflict-affected regions.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed its commitment to supporting any initiative that enhances national development, particularly those aimed at youth empowerment and social cohesion.
With this collaboration, stakeholders hope to reignite Nigeria’s sports legacy, inspire a new generation of athletes, and create safer, healthier communities across the country—using the universal language of sports as a catalyst for unity and progress.
