24/07/2026
COUNCIL COMMISSIONS SPORTS PAVILION AT CITY CAMPUS, Commends Management for Rehabilitation of Buildings
The Acting Chairman of the Institute's Governing Council, Chief (Mrs.) Adimchinaka Onwukwe, on Wednesday, commissioned the rehabilitated Sports Pavilion at the City campus of the Institute where the NINLAN International Schools (NIS) is located and declared it fit for use by students and other sportsmen.
Commissioning the Pavilion made up of Lawn Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton courts, and a Handball pitch under construction, Chief (Mrs.) Onwukwe, commended the vision and decision of the Executive Director, Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha, and his Management team, to provide the students with the opportunity of combining academic work with physical exercises to enhance their mental and physical health.
"This place has received a facelift between now and the last time Council came here. It's obvious to me that the students are happy with the facilities" being provided and rehabilitated. "I hope that Management will do more and more. This will certainly attract more students", the Ag. Chairman said.
Council had taken a break from the first day of its 36th Regular meeting to visit the City campus and commission the pavilion. Several members of Council took turns to express their excitement at the transformation going on at the NIS.
Dr. (Mrs.) Nkechi Adiele, representing the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in the Institute's Council, noted that the Sports Pavilion, in addition to the football pitch, would take care of the psychomotor dimension of education for the students, which alongside the cognitive and affective domains, could provide a sustainable source of livelihood for them.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) in Council, Dr.(Mrs.) Patience Okoli, stated that the transformation that was taking place at the NIS was in line with what the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, was advocating. She promised to convey the positive developments at the Institute to the Minister.
An Internal member of Council, Prof. Nkechi Ohaike, the Director, Centre for Continuing Education, whose office is located at the NIS, commended Management for rehabilitating the Home Economics/Fine and Applied Arts building which was at the point of collapse a few months ago. She hoped that more developments would come.
Prior to the commissioning, the Executive Director had briefed Council that other than the Badminton and Handball (on-going) courts, which were started afresh, the other courts were rehabilitated. He noted that the courts were open to upgrading and maintenance over time.
"The markings were done by the Sports Ministry in line with international standards. The idea is to expose our children to sports early. They can make their living from there like the Osimhens, Kanu Nwankwos. This is also one step to generate internal revenue. People who do cocktails can make use of the courts", Prof. Onuoha said.
The ED expressed gratitude to High Chief Christopher Ogiriga (Coach) who was instrumental to the rehabilitation of the courts in collaboration with professionals from the Abia State Ministry of Sports.
The courts built during the era of the Federal School of Arts and Science, Aba, had remained fallow, dilapidated, and unutilized since NINLAN took over occupation of the temporary site of FSAS, Aba, in 1993, until the recent revamping by Prof. Onuoha.
Other members of Council present during the commissioning include Prof. Gideon Amachonu; Hon. Chief Princess Ify Ugo-Okoye; Pastor (Hon.) David Tukúra; Mr. Ukoh-Ukoh Irogbereachi; Dr. Famous Imu, and Dr. (Mrs.) Callista Ahaji.
The Registrar, Chief (Mrs.) Charity Ijoma; the Bursar, Alhaji Kolawole Aliu, and the Director of Works, Arc. Emeka Izuwah were present during the commissioning.
Godson Ugbor
Public Relations Officer.
