The National Institute for Sports is set to churn out an unprecedented 530 students, comprising four sets during its eighth convocation ceremony, which holds May 25 at the institution’s multipurpose hall in Surulere, Lagos, The PUNCH reports.
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Prof. Olawale Moronkola, stated this during the pre-convocation press briefing held on Thursday in Lagos.
The institution will also for the first time, since its establishment, confer fellowship honours on eminent Nigerians, including the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare; ex-international, Segun Odegbami; business mogul, Adebutu Kessington; Chairman of Brilla FM, Larry Izamoje and sports philanthropist, Modupeola Lawale.
“It’s the first time that we are graduating a record number of 530 students made up of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 sets,” Moronkola told journalists in Lagos.
“Apart from the students that will be conferred with their certificates, we are honouring some eminent Nigerians with Fellowship of the National Institute for Sports for their contributions to sports development in the country.”
While maintaining that the institute had grown in leaps and bounds over the years, Moronkola noted that the management had also introduced new courses to the programmes, while members of staff were also updated with modern trends and standards.
“Apart from our usual basic coaching, advanced certificate in coaching, professional certificate in sports coaching and its equivalence in management with the approval of the NBTE, we have introduced new courses and development in National Diploma in sports coaching training, national diploma in sports management.
“We are also embarking on consultations to revive the long-abandoned partnership with the Australian and German sports institutes. We have also opened discussions with the Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. This will ultimately boost the image of our great institution, in line with best global practices,” he said.
The convocation ceremony will be preceded by a lecture May 24 at the NIS Conference Hall.
