The Federal Government has selected Babcock University as the only private institution among four tertiary institutions chosen to pilot the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (NSEEP).
The initiative, developed by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission, is scheduled to begin in November 2026 and is designed to combine high-performance sports with quality education.
The programme will provide athletes with dual-career pathways, allowing them to pursue professional qualifications while competing at elite level.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Babcock University, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Digital Communications and e-Learning, Mrs Mojoyin Adebayo, said the programme was designed to ensure athletes have career options beyond sports.
“We want to rebuild the sports ecosystem,” Adebayo said, explaining that athletes should be able to continue building careers even when injuries prevent them from competing.
Dr Kweku Tandoh, Chief Operating Officer of the Africa Table Tennis Federation and Consultant to NSEEP, said Babcock’s previous support for sporting events contributed to its selection.
He recalled that the university had hosted a contingent of youths for table tennis championships and provided accommodation and feeding facilities for the athletes.
According to him, the support contributed to the teams’ preparation for medal-winning performances.
Mr Abiola Odetola, Adviser to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, said the partnership would create scholarship opportunities for elite athletes representing Nigeria.
He said the initiative would help address inequality and reduce athlete migration by giving athletes access to education and skills that could support them after their sporting careers.
“About 90 per cent of athletes do not make it to the top and have short career spans. The skills and education they get from an environment like this will be their retirement plan,” Odetola said.
Responding, Babcock University President/Vice Chancellor, Prof Afolarin Ojewole, expressed the university’s support for the initiative.
“The new Nigeria we all want has a partner in Babcock University, and on behalf of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees, we say yes to the partnership,” Ojewole said.
Babcock’s selection follows its involvement in major sporting events in recent years.
In 2025, the university hosted the eighth Nigeria Private University Games Association, a 10-day multi-sport event involving more than 30 private universities.
The same year, it served as the Games Village for the 22nd National Sports Festival, Gateway 2025, accommodating athletes and officials during the event.
The NSEEP is expected to use partnerships between tertiary institutions and sports authorities to provide athletes with opportunities to develop both sporting and professional careers.
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