Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, has announced that the university is set to introduce over 10 new academic programmes in the area of Sports Education after completing a comprehensive design for the establishment of a Sports Institute.

These new programmes include Sports Marketing, Sports Medicine, Sports Psychology, Sports Journalism, Sports Law, and Sports Management, among several others.

Prof. Ishaya explained that the Sports Institute would serve as a hub for producing the next generation of sports professionals in the country, leveraging the university’s strong academic framework.

According to him, “this is not just about building a Sports Centre; it is about bringing back the glory of Plateau State through sports while raising a new breed of Nigerian professional players.”

The vice-chancellor spoke while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Jos and Belgush Royal Promotions, a sports, entertainment and media events management firm, for a partnership that will focus on hosting the National University Games Association (NUGA) and the establishment of a world-class sports institute within the university.

Prof. Ishaya revealed that the partnership will also include an exciting collaboration with the National Sports University of Korea, which is set to contribute expertise to the development of the sports.

According to him, with the university’s strategic vision, the new academic programmes aim to fill a gap in Nigeria’s Sports Education landscape, as there is currently no Nigerian university offering such specialised courses.

The vice-chancellor also stressed that the university’s location in Jos, with its unique climatic condition, provides an ideal environment for nurturing young talented athletes.

 He observed that universities are for the future, and that is why the university is thinking ahead, noting that the new Sports programmes will help shape the future of Nigerian Sports.