 |
| President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare and President of Nigerian Football Federation and Member FIFA Council, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick in state house. June 4th, 2021 |
President Muhamamdu Buhari Friday in Abuja expressed optimism that the membership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick into the FIFA Council โโwill provide benefits that will lead to the advancement of football in Africa and Nigeria.โโ
In an audience with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare and Pinnick, the President, once again, congratulated the NFF boss on his election victory into the strategic body that sets the vision for global football, assuring him of Nigeriaโs support in his new position.
โโThe position on the Council of the worldโs football governing body, FIFA, comes at a time when Nigeria is determined to turn the fortunes of her sports development around through better infrastructure, more investment both public and private government incentives.
โWithout prejudice to the continental nature of your assignment at the Council, I urge you to use your position to ensure Nigeriaโs sporting image receives a boost.
โโI know this position will assist Nigeria get technical and financial support from FIFA; and your position should create a platform for other Nigerians to enter into the FIFA family and other international Sports Federations,โโ he said.
Emphasising his belief in the potential of sports to promote peace, unity, enhance good health and stimulate the economy, President Buhari said โโone of the greatest sports is football and Nigeria is a great football nation. I am myself a keen follower of football.โโ
On his vision for Nigerian football, the President told the Minister and the NFF President:
โโI want to see Nigeriaโs football develop and move in a more dynamic trajectory from football administration to youth and grassroots football, talent hunt and use of Nigeriaโs home based talents.
โโNigeria also needs a more privatized and better organised football regime that can rival others in Europe and America.โโ
The President, therefore, urged the NFF to work with the Sport ministry and football stakeholders to provide Nigeria with a 10-year Football Master Plan that will ensure youth football development, in line with FIFAโs commitment.
Urging corporate organisations to invest in sports development, the President pledged his administrationโs commitment to turn sports into business, adding that the expected reviewed Sport Industry Policy โโwill be the catalyst that turns football activities associated with it into key contributors to the national economy.โโ
In his remarks, Dare thanked the President for his support for sports development in the country, and for approving the reclassification of sports as business, instead of mere recreation.
He promised that a new draft policy on the sports industry was almost ready, as well as a 10-year master plan for football at all levels.
The new FIFA Council member, Pinnick, equally lauded President Buhari for his support for football, saying: โโWithout you, I couldnโt have won election into FIFA Council. Your name is highly respected across the continent.โโ
Pinnick pledged to be a worthy Ambassador of the country, adding โโI will use the office to build Nigerian football, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.โโ
