The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has launched a digital certificate verification system to strengthen the security, credibility and international recognition of its qualifications.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIS, Comrade Philip Shaibu, announced the initiative, which covers both newly issued certificates and those awarded by the Institute in previous years.
The announcement was made in the presence of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen.
Under the new arrangement, NIS certificates will carry scannable technology that enables their authenticity to be confirmed digitally from anywhere in the world.
The platform is expected to make certificate verification easier for employers, sports organisations, educational institutions and other bodies seeking to authenticate the qualifications of NIS graduates.
By including certificates issued in previous years, the Institute has extended the benefits of the system to graduates and coaches who obtained their qualifications before its introduction.
The initiative is also intended to prevent certificate forgery, protect the integrity of NIS qualifications and help genuine certificate holders present their credentials confidently when pursuing professional opportunities in Nigeria and abroad.
Sports coaches and other professionals seeking employment outside the country are expected to benefit, as employers and relevant institutions often require verified academic and professional credentials for recruitment and career progression.
The digital platform is also expected to reduce reliance on manual verification processes and enable organisations to authenticate certificates more efficiently.
The Institute said the initiative aligned with ongoing reforms under Shaibu’s leadership, which focus on technological innovation, modernising operations and improving service delivery.
It added that the system reflected its commitment to transparency, accountability and public confidence in its training programmes, as part of efforts to build a modern and globally competitive institution for sports education and coach development.
