Lagos, NIS Collaborate to Boost Emergency Preparedness in Sports

In a bid to enhance safety within Nigeria's sports sector, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has initiated discussions with the National Institute for Sports (NIS). This development was made public during a recent visit by a LASEMA team to the NIS office in Lagos, aimed at exploring potential areas of collaboration. The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that the primary objective of the visit was to establish a mutually beneficial partnership that integrates emergency preparedness into sports administration and management. According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the collaboration would focus on capacity building, training, and resource sharing to develop Nigeria's sports sector. 'The purpose of this visit is to establish a mutually beneficial partnership with NIS. Sporting environments host large gatherings and high-intensity activities, which create unique emergency risks. By working together, we can embed preparedness, early warning, and rapid response into sports administration nationwide,' he explained. Oke-Osanyintolu also commended the Director-General of the NIS, Philip Shaibu, for his contributions to emergency management during his tenure at the Edo State Emergency Management Agency, noting that his experience would be valuable to the proposed partnership. Shaibu, in his remarks, highlighted the challenges faced by the NIS in the past, which had hindered the development of the sports sector in Nigeria. He mentioned that the sector currently faces a significant manpower deficit of over one million personnel, which the institute is working to address. The NIS is implementing reforms to reposition itself as a centre of excellence, including the revival of abandoned infrastructure projects, curriculum review, staff development, and the introduction of new programmes in physiotherapy and paramedics. Athlete and spectator safety remains a top priority for the institute. Shaibu expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for creating an enabling environment that would ensure the reforms yield positive results. The institute is also expanding partnerships with national and international sporting bodies, including ongoing engagements with the Confederation of African Football, and leveraging the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to improve access to education for students.