House of Representatives Sports Committee Chairman, Goni Lawan, wants Nigeria’s sports media to project the sector positively in order to encourage the corporate world to invest in football and other sports.
Lawan, in company with members of his committee, including former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member, Ayo Omidiran, made the appeal in Abuja at the 2015 budget performance and 2016 budget proposal review of the NFF and the League Management Company (LMC).
“I have listened to the presentation by the NFF president and I see his point on the need for positive reporting of football, and indeed other sports so that Corporate Nigeria can show more interest in the sponsorship of sports.
“Projecting sports positively can help the various sports federations, especially the NFF, to get good sponsorship that will reduce the burden of bankrolling football on the government,” Lawan stressed.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick praised the committee for its marvelous work and support for the programmes of the NFF but sought greater support this year.
Said he: “We have nothing against constructive criticism, as I have always made a point that such criticism makes individuals and institutions stronger by forcing them to introspect now and again.
“But what we are against is destructive criticism.
“This year, we have so many important matches, including the four concluding qualifying matches for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the two opening qualification matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“There are also the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the African Women Championship, and the men’s football tournament of the Olympic Games.
“The present NFF is desirous of leaving a legacy of massive corporate support for football, which will reduce the burden on the government, and we are engaged in aggressive marketing towards that.
“But our cause is not being bolstered by negative mentions here and there, as well as the poor state of the economy.
“Given the importance of football as the strongest unifier of our peoples across various geographical and mental divides, it is time we declared football a national treasure.”
Also at the review were NFF Second Vice President/LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko; NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi; LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar; and other NFF management staff.
