NIS, RENISA Forge Partnership To Secure Better Future For Retired Nigerian Athletes

NIS, RENISA Forge Partnership To Secure Better Future For Retired Nigerian Athletes

By Niyi Busari 

The Director-General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has reaffirmed the institute's commitment to improving the welfare of both serving and retired athletes, describing sports as "a religion" that deserves dedicated investment and long-term support, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Shaibu made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Association of Retired Nigerian Sports Men and Women (RENISA), led by its President, Honourable Sunday Adeleye, at the NIS headquarters.

He said the institute is determined to play a leading role in revitalising Nigerian sports and ensuring that athletes enjoy meaningful careers beyond active competition.

According to Shaibu, no athlete should be left to struggle after retirement, stressing the need for governments at all levels to establish structured programmes that provide employment opportunities and career transition pathways for retired sportsmen and women.

"For us at the NIS, sports is more than a profession—it is our passion and our religion," he said. "We are here to restore the glory of Nigerian sports, not to profit from it. Our goal is to grow sports and ensure that everyone who contributes to it benefits."

The NIS Director-General recalled a programme he introduced while serving in Edo State, where retired athletes who had represented the state for at least five years were to be enrolled at the National Institute of Sports for coaching and professional training. He explained that the initiative was hindered by the institute's challenges at the time but expressed confidence that the programme can now be fully implemented.

"Now that I am at the NIS, I am encouraging every state to adopt a similar model because there is life after active sports. Athletes should be equipped with new skills that enable them to remain relevant, particularly in coaching and sports development," he said.

Shaibu disclosed that the institute is open to collaborating with RENISA in developing programmes that will improve athletes' welfare, strengthen post-retirement planning and promote professional development.

He also commended Adeleye for bringing retired athletes from different sporting disciplines under one umbrella, describing the initiative as a vital step towards addressing common challenges facing former athletes.

According to him, the association can help establish structured retirement and investment plans that will prepare athletes for life after competition and encourage prudent financial management during their active careers.

Reflecting on his role in resolving the leadership crisis that previously divided the Nigeria Players' Union, Shaibu stressed that unity remains essential for sports associations seeking international recognition and funding.

He noted that internal disputes had prevented the union from accessing financial support available through international players' bodies, depriving former footballers of welfare benefits and medical assistance.

"There are significant resources available internationally, but they can only be accessed when stakeholders are united. We cannot continue to lose opportunities because of leadership conflicts," he said.

Shaibu also renewed his call for the immediate constitution of the board of the National Sports Commission (NSC), describing it as a critical step towards strengthening sports administration in Nigeria.

"The National Sports Commission is the way forward, but it cannot operate at full capacity without its governing board. The law establishing the commission must be fully implemented to achieve the desired reforms," he stated.

Earlier, RENISA President Honourable Sunday Adeleye said the association was established to address the welfare challenges confronting retired athletes, many of whom struggle after their sporting careers due to inadequate planning and limited support structures.

He said RENISA is committed to ensuring that former athletes enjoy dignified lives after retirement through education, career development and welfare initiatives.

Adeleye commended Shaibu for what he described as the ongoing transformation of the National Institute of Sports and pledged the association's readiness to partner with the institute in advancing sports development across the country.

He added that RENISA's Training and Capacity Development Department is prepared to enrol members in NIS programmes to enhance their knowledge of sports administration, coaching and other professional opportunities within the industry.