The Federal Government has launched the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a new initiative aimed at integrating quality education with elite sports development to produce world-class athletes, create employment opportunities and position sports as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The programme was unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko.
According to the minister, N-SEEP is one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s education sector, designed to enable talented young Nigerians to pursue academic excellence and sporting success simultaneously, rather than choosing one over the other.
Dr Alausa said the initiative would establish Sports and Education Centres of Excellence in selected tertiary institutions across the country, creating a structured system for discovering, nurturing and retaining sporting talents while equipping them with internationally recognised academic qualifications and professional skills.
He explained that beyond producing champions, the programme would develop professionals in coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, sports medicine, research, administration, entrepreneurship and innovation, ensuring athletes have sustainable careers after active competition.
The minister added that integrating sports development into schools would help reduce youth involvement in crime and social vices, promote discipline and teamwork, strengthen national unity and unlock the economic potential of the sports industry.
“For too long, many of our gifted athletes have sought opportunities abroad because we lacked a structured system that combines education with elite sports development. N-SEEP changes that narrative,” he said.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the programme as a landmark reform that would redefine the relationship between education and sports by ensuring talented students excel academically while pursuing their sporting ambitions.
She called for flexible academic calendars and assessment systems that accommodate the unique demands of elite athletes.
On his part, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko said the initiative represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s efforts to build a globally competitive sports industry anchored on education, innovation and strategic partnerships.
He disclosed plans to establish Sports Centres of Excellence in Unity Schools, state and private schools to identify talented athletes early, while engagements are ongoing with international bodies such as FIFA and CAF to secure global accreditation for sports-related academic programmes in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, said the programme would create a sustainable pipeline of coaches, sports scientists, educators, researchers and sports administrators, drawing inspiration from successful models in countries including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and China.
As part of the rollout, the Federal Government announced that nine tertiary institutions have been selected to host the National Sports and Education Centres of Excellence. They include the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Benin, University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Muhammad Buhari University, Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Federal College of Education, Okene, and Babcock University.
The first phase of implementation will begin this year at the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Federal College of Education, Okene, and Babcock University, while the remaining institutions will be included in subsequent phases.
Each participating institution will establish a Faculty of Sports Science offering internationally benchmarked programmes in coaching, sports medicine, sports science, rehabilitation, sports technology, research, sports business, event management and sports administration.
The Federal Government said the initiative will create a seamless pathway for identifying and developing sporting talents from basic education through tertiary institutions, while strengthening research, innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development in the country’s sports sector.
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