The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious national programme that seeks to tackle youth unemployment, reduce insecurity and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s sports industry through the integration of education and elite athletic development.

The initiative, known as the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), was launched in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko.

Alausa described sports as a powerful tool for human capital development, social stability and economic transformation, stressing that the Federal Government is committed to creating opportunities that will keep young Nigerians productively engaged while building a globally competitive sports industry.

According to the Minister, the programme will establish Sports and Education Centres of Excellence across selected tertiary institutions to provide talented young Nigerians with quality education alongside elite sports training.

He said the initiative is designed to produce not only world-class athletes but also a new generation of coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists, sports administrators, researchers and entrepreneurs who will drive the growth of Nigeria’s sports economy.

The Minister noted that integrating structured sports development into schools would help steer young people away from crime, violence and other social vices by providing them with opportunities to develop their talents and build sustainable careers.

Alausa said Nigeria has for decades lost many of its best sporting talents to foreign countries because of the absence of a system that combines education with high-performance sports, adding that the new programme would reverse the trend by creating world-class institutions capable of nurturing athletes at home.

He added that the initiative would stimulate private sector investment, expand employment opportunities and strengthen industries linked to sports, including sports medicine, rehabilitation, technology, event management, media and facility management.

The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the leadership behind the initiative, describing it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said the programme would enable student-athletes to excel both academically and in sports through a flexible learning system that accommodates the demands of elite competition.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the programme as a defining moment for Nigeria’s sports sector, revealing that the Commission is upgrading sports facilities in schools and engaging international bodies such as FIFA and CAF to secure global accreditation for sports-related academic programmes.

Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the initiative would reposition sports as a major contributor to national development by producing the skilled workforce required for a modern sports industry.

As part of the rollout, the Federal Government announced that nine tertiary institutions have been selected to host the National Sports and Education Centres of Excellence, while the first phase of implementation will begin this year in four institutions, including the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Okene and Babcock University.

The programme is expected to create a seamless pathway for identifying and developing sporting talents from schools to tertiary institutions, equipping young Nigerians with internationally recognised qualifications while positioning sports as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and national development.