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.…As NFF Conducts 81st Annual General Assembly in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, stated on Saturday that his administration has successfully boosted the state’s sports industry via various policies and initiatives over the past six years.

The governor, Makinde, who officially opened the 81st Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation at Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan, once again emphasized his administration’s dedication to promoting sports development.

The yearly General Assembly overlaps with the U-20 Women’s Qualifying Match between Nigeria and Rwanda, set to take place at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Adamasingba, Ibadan, which underwent renovations under the Makinde administration.

As per Makinde, due to the assistance from the NFF and other sports organizations, his administration has managed to maintain the emphasis on restoring sports facilities and establishing appropriate frameworks, which are drawing various sporting events at both national and international levels to Oyo State.

He stated that Ibadan, the state’s capital, now possesses the necessary facilities to organize major sporting events, including matches featuring the Super Eagles.

The leader urged the NFF to make sure that the relevant officials inspect the state’s sports facilities, adding that his administration will not hesitate to allocate funds to get everything in order for these events.

The governor stated: “On behalf of the government and the citizens of Oyo State, I sincerely appreciate the NFF president and your executive committee members for your attention to Oyo State.”

Yes, we are working on building a sports economy here, but without your support or the pressure from individuals like you, some of our initiatives may end up being ineffective.

So, we are pleased that today you have brought your Annual General Assembly to Oyo State. We are also delighted that you have arranged the match we will be watching this afternoon between the Nigeria U-20 women’s team and the Rwanda U-20 women’s team.

And, as I mentioned during our breakfast this morning, Ibadan is eager to have the chance to host major events – the Super Eagles. So, let them come and inspect our facilities, and whatever needs to be done, I assure you that we will allocate the required resources.

The governor also praised the NFF for the changes it has implemented in football at the national level and within the Nigeria Premier Football League, which have led to a more equitable league.

There has been considerable advancement, but I believe there is still much work remaining, particularly concerning financial support. Football is meant to be a major event. However, for some reason, our people continue to follow other leagues.

“You ask people, what’s your team? They’ll say Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona. I’m not sure what this federation is involved in, but you need to take action to attract major companies to back your initiatives,” he added.

He hoped the NFF achieves success in its upcoming electoral congress, highlighting that the transition within the federation had been smooth and uninterrupted in the past.

This was while he repeated his demand for a five-year single term in the political body, mentioning that if the NFF could also examine its constitution in this matter, the proposal could be advantageous for them.

I’m aware you mentioned next year, you’ll hold the elective congress. Well, I know that there are one or two things we can learn from the way you’ve been managing your affairs.

From Amaju to you, the shift was smooth. We didn’t hear anything regarding someone influencing the election or committing illegal acts. Therefore, I believe the elective congress will also be successful.

If you have the chance for a second term, I suggest a single term of five or six years. However, I have already served four years twice. Therefore, perhaps you should examine your own constitution as well, but I will still support that five or six years is sufficient. Well, maybe not in football.

Earlier, the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, stated that the federation and football fans throughout the country appreciated Governor Makinde for his contributions to football and sports in the state, such as his backing of the Shooting Stars Sporting Club (3SC) and the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Adamasingba, Ibadan, among other efforts.

This was following his commendation of the governor for endorsing and backing the NFF Assembly and the organization of the FIFA Women’s U20 Qualifiers in Ibadan. Gusau pledged that residents of Oyo State would soon have the opportunity to see the Super Eagles in Ibadan.

He stated, “It is a day when the Nigerian Football Federation’s Congress is convening at your doorstep. This would not have been achievable without you creating the favorable conditions for us to be here. We appreciate you for that.”

I recall that more than a month ago, I asked you to have us here for this event, as well as to host the match of our under-20 girls against Rwanda in the historic city of Ibadan, which you kindly agreed to.

I would like to, on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Football Federation, as well as the whole Congress and indeed all football stakeholders in this great nation, express my immense gratitude for your efforts in promoting sports, particularly football in Oyo State, since you took office as Governor of Oyo State approximately six years and a few months ago.

Everyone is aware that Oyo was once the hub of football and that Governor Seyi Makinde is a passionate football supporter. If you spend time with him and he shares some of the history of how far he has gone in supporting football, you will find it hard to believe.

This was the reason why, when we witnessed his actions in the realm of sports, particularly football, we weren’t taken aback. We discussed renovating the stadium, which he carried out. He also made every effort to bring 3SC back to life.

“Every time he speaks to me, he always asks, ‘President, how can we get the Super Eagles to Ibadan? This is the home of the Super Eagles. Please, let me know what you want.’ Even this morning, during breakfast when I was with him, he said, ‘President, when will these people come and tell us what we need to do so that the Super Eagles can play their matches in Ibadan?’

I informed him that it is actually going to become feasible very soon. And, with the help of God, we will strive our hardest to turn this into a reality. The residents of Oyo State will witness the Super Eagles, thanks to their own support and involvement.

Acknowledging that his administration had made every effort to advance football from the point where it was three years ago, Gusau urged Nigerians to maintain their support for the federation in order to enhance the sport, and mentioned that they would do everything possible to secure qualification for the Super Eagles in the upcoming World Cup.

Additionally, the former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, urged support for the federation, similar to his appeal to Nigerians to stay hopeful about the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

With Governor Makinde’s team were the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni; Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaja Wasilat Adegoke; Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo; Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaja Faosat Sanni; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (Rtd).

You May Also LikeProvided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).