The Federal Government has unveiled the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a landmark reform initiative designed to transform talent discovery, academic development, and sports infrastructure across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The initiative was jointly launched by the Minister of Education, Dr. Moruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko.
The programme seeks to establish a sustainable pipeline for student-athletes while expanding professional sports education across the country.
Under the framework of N-SEEP, nine specialized Sports and Education Centres of Excellence will be established across eight federal tertiary institutions and one private university.
These centers will feature specialized sports faculties, high-performance training facilities, and modern research infrastructure, enabling student-athletes to earn internationally recognized qualifications while honing their athletic capabilities.
Phase One of the rollout is scheduled for the 2026/2027 academic session and will commence across four pioneer institutions: the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, the Federal College of Education in Okene, and Babcock University.
These initial centers will introduce newly developed academic programs tailored to contemporary labor market demands and global industry standards in areas such as sports science, sports medicine, physiotherapy, coaching, sports administration, and sports research.
Highlighting the scope of the reform, Dr. Alausa noted that the initiative eliminates the long-standing conflict young Nigerians face when choosing between academic pursuits and professional sports careers.
He emphasized that the program aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transition Nigeria toward a knowledge-based economy by investing in human capital, building upon the national momentum following Nigeria’s performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Minister expressed appreciation to NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade, and members of the technical committee for their inter-agency collaboration in realizing the policy framework.