The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has opened discussions with the National Institute for Sports (NIS) on a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening sports development, coaching education and grassroots participation across the country.
The proposal was tabled during a courtesy visit by an NRFF delegation to the Lagos campus of the Institute, where both organisations explored areas of collaboration, including coaching education, technical development and grassroots sports promotion.
As part of its support for the Institute, the Federation donated rugby balls and other sporting equipment for the NIS Coaches Olympics, one of the activities lined up for the institution’s forthcoming Students’ Week.
The meeting also focused on expanding grassroots sports development, improving talent identification and creating sustainable pathways for young Nigerians to participate in organised sports.
Speaking on behalf of the Federation, Mr. Azeez Ladipo said rugby has recorded remarkable growth in Nigeria in recent years, revealing that the sport is now actively played in 20 states, with more than 3,000 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 participating in non-contact rugby.
He added that the Federation aims to increase that number to 10,000 before the end of the year through its grassroots expansion programme.
Ladipo also highlighted Nigeria’s rise from 24th to seventh in the African rugby rankings, describing it as evidence of the Federation’s sustained investment in the sport.
He said the NRFF is targeting qualification for the rugby event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and proposed that the partnership should include the introduction of professional rugby coaching and technical courses at the NIS to enable Nigerian coaches obtain internationally recognised certifications.
Responding on behalf of the Director-General of the Institute, the Registrar, Mr. Belmond Benson, thanked the Federation for considering the NIS as a strategic partner.
He said a formal collaboration would benefit both institutions, adding that the Institute remains committed to promoting coaching excellence, capacity building, research and sports development in line with its national mandate.
Also speaking, the Institute’s Visiting Professor, Prof. Fasun, stressed the importance of increasing rugby’s visibility at the grassroots.
He called for greater education on the rules of the game for athletes, coaches and sports enthusiasts, advocating the use of instructional videos and other learning resources to deepen knowledge and encourage wider participation.
The NRFF delegation was received on behalf of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, by Registrar Belmond Benson and Prof. Fasun. The President of the NRFF, Dr. Ademola Are, was represented by Mr. Azeez Ladipo.
Other members of the delegation included Orji Amarachi Favour, an NRFF member and student coach at the Institute, while officials of the Students’ Union Government, led by their president, also attended the meeting.
