The leadership of the National Sports Association for Judiciary (NASAJ) has initiated moves to strengthen sporting activities within Nigeria’s judiciary by seeking a strategic partnership with the National Institute for Sports (NIS), as its Director-General, Philip Shaibu, pledged sweeping reforms to reposition the institute as a centre of sporting excellence in Africa.
Leading the delegation during a courtesy visit to the institute on Friday was the National President of NASAJ, Sunday Noah, who commended Shaibu’s contributions to sports development during his tenure as Deputy Governor of Edo State and as a former player of Bendel Insurance F.C..
According to Noah, Shaibu’s track record in sports administration and governance made him a suitable choice to drive the sports transformation agenda of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“If anywhere anybody can recall your performance as Deputy Governor of Edo State and even as a player of Bendel Insurance, it is in the transformation you brought to sports in Edo State. That informed our decision to seek collaboration with you,” Noah said.
He explained that NASAJ, established in 1994 under the leadership of the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Bello, serves as the umbrella body responsible for organising the annual Chief Justice of Nigeria Sports Competition for judicial officers across federal and state courts.
Noah noted that the association aims to deepen partnerships that would help organise a more vibrant, efficient and well-structured sports tournament for members of the judiciary.
“We organise the annual sports event for the entire judiciary, both at the state and federal levels. Our goal is to build a stronger network that will enhance the competition and promote healthy living among judicial officers,” he added.
Other members of the NASAJ delegation included National Vice President Mustapha Mohammed, National Treasurer Murtala Kursherki, National Financial Secretary Olarotimi Giwa Saliu, National Public Relations Officer Suleiman Musa Suleiman, Assistant Secretary-General Emmanuel John, Assistant PRO Ibrahim Baba, and Ex-Officio member Bar. Gabriel Maha.
Responding, Shaibu pledged the institute’s readiness to collaborate with NASAJ in advancing sports development within the judiciary.
The former deputy governor commended the support given to the association by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, noting that judicial officers deserve recognition for making time for sporting activities despite their demanding schedules.
He further disclosed that the institute is undertaking major reforms aimed at transforming the National Institute for Sports into a centre of excellence in Africa.
“The mandate given to us by the President is to turn the National Institute for Sports into an institute of excellence in Africa. We want to ensure that charity begins at home,” Shaibu said.
He added that ongoing curriculum reforms at the institute would introduce new areas such as physiotherapy and family-oriented sports development programmes aimed at broadening the scope of sports education and training in the country.
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