Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has taken a bold step off the pitch and into the classroom, enrolling at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Lagos, to pursue a career in sports administration.
Yobo, who also served briefly as an assistant coach of Nigeria’s national team, is now studying Sports Management at Africa’s foremost sports training institution. He revealed his motivations during a surprise classroom visit by the NIS Advisory Committee, led by the Director General, Philip Shaibu, on Monday.
“From my background as a player and coach, I want to gain proper certification in sports management. There’s no knowledge too small in this field — I want to expand my mindset,” said Yobo.
The 51-year-old institution’s inspection tour also covered its hostel, gym, library, and other facilities. At the classroom level, students shared their diverse goals, unified by one mission: to gain the skills and credentials to drive sports development in Nigeria.
Abiodun Ajayi, another Sports Management student, aims to revive grassroots volleyball. “We haven’t seen much youth participation in volleyball lately, especially at the secondary school level. I want to change that,” he said.
For Cross River State’s Akpan Charity, the desire to back her kickboxing experience with formal certification led her to NIS. “I want to be more than just a titleholder — I want to be a certified sports manager,” she said.
Ariyo Olayiwola echoed the same thirst for in-depth knowledge. “I know a bit about sports management, but I’m here to dig deeper. NIS offers the best platform for that,” he added.
In response to students’ requests for more practical training, DG Shaibu assured that the institute would enhance the hands-on aspects of its curriculum to better prepare graduates for real-world challenges.
