The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), H.E. Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has inaugurated a committee to oversee the verification and revalidation of coaching certificates issued by the Institute, ahead of a nationwide exercise scheduled to commence on January 4, 2027.
The exercise, which will run for three months until March 4, 2027, is aimed at verifying the authenticity of coaching certificates, updating the Institute’s records and strengthening confidence in the qualifications of coaches trained by the NIS.
As part of the exercise, all coaches who have passed through the NIS will be required to visit the Institute’s Abuja office for the revalidation of their certificates.
The Institute is expected to use the process to establish accurate records of qualified coaches and improve the credibility of its certification system.
The committee, chaired by the Registrar of the Institute, Mr. Belmond Benson, has Dr. Omoh Atsenokhai, the Institute’s Librarian, as Secretary. It has been mandated to undertake the necessary groundwork, organise existing records and put the required arrangements in place before the commencement of the verification exercise on January 4, 2027.
The committee has a three-month preparatory period leading up to the commencement of the exercise. The revalidation process is expected to ensure that coaching certificates presented for official and professional purposes are properly authenticated. Under the proposed guidelines, certificates that have not been validated will not be recognised by agencies within and outside Nigeria.
The initiative underscores the commitment of the Shaibu-led administration to strengthening institutional standards, promoting professionalism and protecting the integrity of NIS qualifications. It is also expected to enhance confidence in the Institute’s certification process and support the development of a credible database of trained coaches across the country.
