The federal government has inaugurated the new board of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), with a view to providing effective governance and policy direction for the Institution in line with the enabling instrument that established it.

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, while inaugurating the Board in Abuja on Wednesday, urged members to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realisation of the mission and mandate of the Institute.

Mr Dare observed that the institution was topmost in Africa for sports administration before it suddenly lost its glory.

The minister expressed optimism that the country would reclaim the lost glory with the appointment of seasoned sports administrators into the new Board.

“I believe the Institution will occupy its pride of place in Africa again,” he said.

Mr Dare added that with the recent approval of the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP), which provides for private sector participation in sports as a business and not mere recreation, the challenge of funding and other related issues concerning sporting activities in Nigeria would soon be over.

“Your role as a board is explicit, to move the National Institute of Sports in the direction of modernity much beyond the reputation of NIS before now,” Mr Dare said.

He informed that though efforts were ongoing to establish the first university of sports in the country, the Institute till then, would remain the nation’s sports institution that needs credibility of examination process to ensure its certificate is fully recognised.

Mr Dare stated further that the Ministry had signed a 10-Year Football Masterplan aimed at addressing the fundamental anomalies that have plagued the development of football in the country, for the benefit of a broader strata of society.

Speaking earlier, the permanent secretary, federal ministry of sports and youth development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, called on the board members to partner with relevant institutions and stakeholders in order to realise the mission and vision of the Institute.

Mr Abubakar assured that the Ministry would continue to support the board to ensure it succeeds in the discharge of its mandate.

Responding, the board chairman, Danladi Ibrahim, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Dare, as well as top management staff of the administration for the privilege given to them to serve.

Mr Ibrahim assured that they would bring in their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realisation of the Institute’s mandate.

The newly inaugurated board has 11 members excluding the chairman, Danladi Ibrahim, as well as the Registrar who is automatically the Secretary.

The members are Maj.-Gen. Okpeh Wilson Ali, AIG Hafiz Inuwa, Lawrence Babatunde Aremu, Dr Fatima Umar, Boniface Odum and Salisu Aliyu.

Others are Ag. DCG Gregory Itohoh, Prof. O. A. Moronkola, Kunle Solaja, Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, and Awogbade Gbadebo.

(NAN)