The Federal Government has unveiled the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a landmark reform aimed at transforming how Nigeria discovers, develops and supports sporting talents.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Thursday alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko.
Alausa said N-SEEP is designed to build a sustainable system that ensures Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games becomes the norm, not the exception.
He noted that for too long, talented young Nigerians have been forced to choose between education and sports, adding that the new programme will change that narrative.
According to him, nine Sports and Education Centres of Excellence will be established across eight federal institutions and one private university. The centres will feature specialised sports faculties, high-performance training facilities and modern research infrastructure.
“Across these centres, students will pursue internationally recognised qualifications while developing their athletic potential,” he said.
Phase One will begin in the 2026/2027 academic session with four pioneer institutions: the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Okene, and Babcock University.
Alausa explained that the pioneer institutions will lead the rollout with newly developed sports courses aligned with labour market needs and international standards.
He added that beyond elite athletes, the centres will also nurture coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists, sports medicine specialists, administrators, researchers and innovators.
The Minister said N-SEEP aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects the government’s commitment to transform Nigeria from a resource-based economy into a knowledge-based economy by investing in its people.
He commended Dikko, the NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, the technical committee and other stakeholders for their collaboration in bringing the vision to life.
FG Unveils National Sports And Education Excellence Programme
