Abuja, Nigeria — August 16, 2025 | The Federal Government has unveiled a landmark reform to integrate sports into Nigeria’s education system, aiming to groom well-rounded students while tapping into the nation’s vast athletic potential.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, who announced the policy in Abuja, declared, “Sports is Education, Education is Sports.” He said the initiative will merge academic and athletic development, ensuring sports is recognised as a core component of learning across all levels of education.
A 20-member review committee—comprising educationists, sports administrators, and policy experts—has been inaugurated to design the implementation framework. The panel will oversee curriculum integration, upgrade sports facilities in schools, and strengthen training programmes for coaches and teachers.
Dr. Alausa noted that the reform seeks to identify and nurture sporting talent from an early age while promoting discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness among students. He added that the policy could also bolster Nigeria’s competitiveness in global sporting events by building a steady pipeline of trained athletes from the school system.
Education and sports stakeholders have hailed the move as a strategic investment in youth development and a vital step toward positioning Nigeria as a continental sports powerhouse.