By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has congratulated the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, on his election into the FIFA Executive Council, the highest decision-making organ in world football.
The president, through his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, stated that Pinnick earned his membership into the FIFA Executive Council via hardwork.
The president stated: “I believe that by dint of hardwork, dedication and consistency, Pinnick has proven to be an efficient football administrator and the world has taken notice of his competency skills by electing him into the FIFA Council and one of the Vice Presidents of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).”
Besides, the president pointed out that this feat of enhanced visibility and prestige of Nigeria in the international community was coming on the heels of recent elections of other well qualified and endowed Nigerians into strategic leadership positions in international organisations.
He, however, urged Pinnick to see his new assignment as an opportunity to enhance Nigeria’s reputation and identity as a football-loving country and optimally utilise the role of sports, through football, as a driving force to engender development, peace and stability at the regional and international levels.
“As an active supporter of the round leather game, I join other enthusiastic fans in Nigeria and across the continent in wishing the NFF president the best in his new position,” Buhari stated.