The Federal Government will introduce sports degree programmes in four tertiary schools from the 2026/2027 academic session under a new talent development initiative.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa on Thursday, following the unveiling of the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP) alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko.
The programme is designed to end the long-standing challenge that has forced many gifted athletes to choose between academic pursuits and sporting careers by creating a structured pathway that combines both.
Under the first phase, the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Okene, and Babcock University will begin offering newly developed sports-related courses from the 2026/2027 academic session.
Dr. Alausa said the courses would be aligned with labour market needs and international standards, giving students recognised qualifications while helping them develop their sporting abilities.
He said, “Building a world-class sports ecosystem starts with education.”
The minister described N-SEEP as “a landmark reform that will transform how Nigeria discovers, develops and supports its sporting talents.”
He said Nigeria’s performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games showed “what our young people can achieve when talent is identified, nurtured and supported,” adding that the programme would build “a sustainable system that ensures those successes become the norm, not the exception.”
“For too long, talented young Nigerians have been forced to choose between pursuing their education and pursuing their sporting dreams. N-SEEP changes that,” he said.
The initiative will establish nine Sports and Education Centres of Excellence across eight federal schools and one private university, providing specialised sports faculties, high-performance training facilities and research centres.
Beyond producing athletes, the centres will train coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists, sports medicine specialists, administrators and researchers to strengthen the country’s sports sector.
Dr. Alausa said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by investing in human capital and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to build careers through sports and education.
He also thanked Mallam Dikko, National Sports Commission Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade, members of the technical committee and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
“Together, we are building a future where every talented Nigerian has the opportunity to learn, compete and excel,” the minister said.