The Director-General and 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 begin on January 4, 2027.

The three-month exercise, which will run until March 4, 2027, is designed to authenticate coaching certificates, update the Institute’s records and strengthen confidence in the qualifications of coaches trained by the NIS.

As part of the process, all coaches who have undergone training at the Institute will be required to visit its Abuja office for the revalidation of their certificates.

The initiative is expected to help the NIS establish an accurate database of qualified coaches while improving the credibility and integrity of its certification system.

The committee is chaired by the Institute’s Registrar, Mr. Belmond Benson, while Dr. Omoh Atsenokhai, the Institute’s Librarian, will serve as Secretary.

The committee has been mandated to undertake the necessary groundwork, organise existing records and put the required arrangements in place ahead of the commencement of the verification exercise on January 4, 2027.

Under the proposed guidelines, coaching certificates that have not been validated will not be recognised by agencies within and outside Nigeria for official and professional purposes.

The initiative reflects the Shaibu-led administration’s commitment to strengthening institutional standards, promoting professionalism and safeguarding the integrity of NIS qualifications.

It is also expected to boost confidence in the Institute’s certification process and support the development of a reliable national database of coaches trained by the NIS.