The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has expressed the military’s readiness to partner with the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in the training and retraining of its coaches and athletes for ultimate performance. In a meeting with the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIS, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Musa emphasized the importance of sports in fighting insecurity and boosting the nation’s economy.

Musa said, “Once we engaged the youths, there will be no crime. In Nigeria, we are blessed with talents. I can assured you of the military readiness to collaborate and partner with National Institute for Sports in training and retraining of our coaches and athletes.” He stressed that sports remains an engine room to fight insecurity and called on all stakeholders in sports to revive grassroots sports across the states.

Shaibu, in a statement, said the institution’s management visited Musa to seek collaboration and partnership with the military. “NIS is a training institution. It has the capacity to train all management of the sports eco-system, it is our responsibility,” Shaibu said. He lamented the death of state leagues across the country and advocated for their return, pointing out that the leagues can employ thousands of young Nigerians, thereby reducing the rate of crime.

Shaibu also briefed Musa on the core mandate of the institute and expressed his readiness to work with the renewed hope agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in ensuring the certificate of the institution is well recognized in Nigeria and globally. Musa assured Shaibu of the military’s support, saying, “We will give you the needed support in this direction.” Shaibu emphasized that sports can deal with all aspects of the economy and expressed optimism about the partnership.