Alausa Unveils N-SEEP to Combine Sports and Education in Nigerian Universities

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has unveiled the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP), a major initiative aimed at integrating sports development with academic excellence across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Speaking during the launch alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, Alausa said the programme is designed to transform how Nigeria discovers, develops and supports young sporting talents while ensuring they receive quality education.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s impressive performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games demonstrated the country’s immense sporting potential, stressing that N-SEEP would establish a sustainable system to make such achievements a consistent reality.
He noted that many talented young Nigerians have traditionally been forced to choose between pursuing higher education and developing their sporting careers, adding that the new programme would eliminate that challenge by allowing students to excel in both areas.
Under the initiative, 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, enabling students to earn internationally recognised qualifications while developing their athletic abilities.
The first phase of the programme will commence 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. These institutions will introduce newly developed sports-related courses aligned with international standards and labour market demands.
Beyond producing elite athletes, Alausa said the programme will also train coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists, sports medicine specialists, administrators, researchers and innovators to strengthen Nigeria’s sports sector.
The minister explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by investing in human capital and supporting Nigeria’s transition from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.
He commended the National Sports Commission, its Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade, members of the technical committee and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful launch of the programme.
Alausa expressed confidence that N-SEEP would provide talented Nigerians with greater opportunities to combine education and sports while positioning the country as a leading force in sports development.