Speaking to this site some months ago, the chairman of the Kano State Coaches Council, Ibrahim Gwadabe had complained about the shortage of fully employed coaches in the Kano State Sports Commission which according to him will seriously hamper the state’s sporting activities.
He believed that this undesirable trend was resulting from the Commission’s reluctance to suggest to the government that youthful coaches be employed right away to replace the commission’s sick or deceased coaches.
However, this site’s research revealed that the commission is not only experiencing coaches’ scarcity, but also a staffing shortfall, with each department or association being severely impacted.
Our investigation further revealed that almost all of the commission’s departments and associations are impacted by the lack of personnel to effectively administer or manage them as before.
This site can authoritatively reveal that the commission no longer has more than 50–60 or a few more persons as legitimate staff, which has left a number of its offices and posts unfilled.
Historically, this site gathered that the Kano State Sports Commission (KSSC) enjoyed robust staffing levels across its various departments and associations, enabling it to effectively manage sports development programs, training sessions, and inter-state sporting engagements.
The Commission was once recognized for its broad capacity to organize grassroots sporting events and maintain talent pipelines in collaboration with schools and local sports councils.
But the current situation indicates otherwise as the commiison is now empty staffwise.
As there is Human Resource Deficiency: Most departments and associations under KSSC are currently under-staff which has negatively impacted training schedules, program implementation, athlete supervision, and administrative duties.
Lack of Strategic Recruitment is another torn in the commission flesh as it reportedly hesitates to advocate for new hires, especially among youthful coaches, to fill vacancies left by deceased or incapacitated staff.
Dependency on External Manpower is yet another problem as during out-of-state engagements or national sporting events, the Commission often relies on support from other state ministries due to internal staff shortages.
Youth Unemployment and Missed Opportunities: The absence of a structured recruitment drive ignores the potential of hundreds of qualified NCE and degree graduates in physical and health education (PHE), contributing to youth unemployment and an underutilized talent pool.
Impact on Performance: The lack of personnel has also severely impacted the commission’s performance, leading to:
– Inability to effectively administer or manage departments and associations
– Reliance on manpower support from other ministries or agencies for out-of-state engagements
– Potential hindrance to Kano’s sports development
Professional Recommendations: In light of these findings, the following strategic interventions are recommended:
Urgent Staff Recruitment Drive: His Excellency should approve and facilitate the immediate recruitment of qualified NCE and degree holders in Physical and Health Education to fill both technical and administrative vacancies within the Commission.
Institutional Audit and Workforce Planning: A comprehensive staff audit should be commissioned to ascertain current staffing gaps and project future human resource needs. This will support a structured succession and retention plan.
Policy on Internal Promotion and Youth Inclusion: The commission should adopt a framework that promotes younger coaches and sports officers while ensuring mentorship from remaining senior staff. This can sustain institutional memory and foster innovation.
Inter-Ministerial Staff Redeployment: In the short term, consider deploying PHE teachers and instructors from public schools with minimal classroom demand to support the Commission’s operational deficiencies.
Budgetary Support and Legislative Backing: Allocate sufficient budget to support staffing and capacity development within the KSSC, and consider legislative advocacy through the State House of Assembly to institutionalize periodic recruitment and workforce renewal in the sports sectors.
Lastly, His Excellency needs to know that the dwindling staffing levels at the Kano State Sports Commission pose a real threat to the state’s long-standing legacy in sports development and youth engagement.
Addressing this challenge is not just a matter of administrative necessity—it is a strategic investment in the health, talent, and economic empowerment of Kano’s youth.
We, in the sports sector therefore, humbly urge your esteemed office to approve the recruitment and redeployment of PHE graduates and educators into the KSSC as a matter of priority.
This singular act will not only revive the Commission’s capacity but will also align with your administration’s broader vision for youth development, employment creation, and community health through sports.
