The event saw CAF’s Chief Safety & Security Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, and FCT’s FA Chairman, Adam Mouktar Mohammed go head to head as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, represented by his Special Adviser on Media Mr. kola Daniel, Chairman NUJ FCT Council, Emmanuel Ogbeche and the crowd watch on in excitement.

Between the welcome address by Chairman of SWAN, FCT chapter, Bunmi “Blair” Haruna. and the closing remarks by Emmanuel Ogbeche, the candidates addressed critical points raised.

THE CANDIDATES SPEAK

Adam Mouktar Mohammed was quick to highlight his achievements as the FCT FA Chairman when quizzed on his reasons for contesting.

He said, “I have been in the position of the FCT FA Chairman for the last 3 years, and I see myself as a game-changer. We are in the 22nd century where football has evolved into business, with my experience of developing young players from zero to heroes, I’m very much suitable for the job.”

He also emphasized picking players from all over the country and helping them through the ranks, from the U-17 to the U-19 to the senior National teams.

“I have invested my time and money for over 20 years, and have gotten my hands dirty, so I know what is needed and what needs to be done. I resigned from my position, came into administration, and in the last 3 years, I can humbly beat my chest and say I am the best performing FA Chairman in the country.

“We came in with the promise that we wanted to develop facilities, and we have done it. We have trained over 120 coaches which you can verify, and have returned the Abuja league to the top in the country. Talking about international cooperation, I have brought Bayern Munich, making a home-grown player to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the world. So I understand the business of Football,” Mouktar boasts.

CAF’s Chief Safety & Security Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa prides in his continental experience.

“I sit currently in a position where I can see what happens in all 54 countries in Africa, and we have what is called the Directorate Review Session every Monday, where we look at the development and progress in each member association. Unfortunately, I sit at the meeting weekly and listen to how my country Nigeria is mostly at the bottom. In terms of development programs, progress in capacity building, league performance, and so on, and I said within myself, that in this coming election, I will not be sitting down anymore in the comfort of my office in Cairo, without coming back home to try and vie for the position.

“I consider myself fit for the position because this is my profession. I studied sports from my first degree to my Ph.D. at the University of Ibadan, and I also worked within the purview of the NFF for many years, where I was privileged to be in the very engine room that drives the entire process of Nigerian Football, which is the office of the Secretary. I have also worked with FIFA since 2015, in a job that has given me the opportunity to support the delivery of different competitions. I have also been able to join CAF to start up a department that was never in existence in the last 60 years of our African Football, and today, within 3-and-a-half years, that department is the second best in the world.”

“I thought that with my wealth of experience and knowing exactly the problems of Nigerian Football, it will be uncharitable to close my eyes, and not come back home to try to contribute,”
Christian Emeruwa said while answering questions on why he decided to vie for the position of NFF president.

The event had journalists and football fans gather at the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) FCT Council Secretariat, Utako Abuja.

By Harry Awurumibe

A week to the much-awaited Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election into its Executive Board slated for September 30 in Benin City, frontrunner in the race for the President of the federation, Dr. Christian Emeruwa has continued his nationwide consultation with critical stakeholders in football in Nigeria.

Dr. Emeruwa who seems to be the only presidential candidate running for the exalted office has for the past 15 days been engaging the NFF Delegates to the Elective Congress in Benin City, just as he has held several media sessions with the sporting press.

Specifically, the astute football administrator and Founder/Head of Security and Safety Department of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) who was the first person to indicate his interest in the NFF Presidency and the first aspirant to buy the form has held Consultative Meetings with NFF Zonal Delegates across the six geopolitical zones except South South Caucus meeting which hold this weekend.

The former Head of Integrity Unit of NFF has successfully held meetings with the North Central, North West and North East Caucus of NFF just as he also met with South East and South West NFF Delegates.

Worthy of mentioning is the facts that 95% of State Football Associations Chairmen attended the meetings where Dr. Emeruwa presented his strategic plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit Nigeria football stakeholders if voted into the office in Benin City.

Aside holding meetings with FA Chairmen, the most visible candidate out of the 11 cleared by the NFF Electoral Committee first met with the vibrant Nigerian sporting press when he hosted the Sports Editors at Sheraton Hotels Ikeja in Lagos where he laid bare his plans to overhaul the entire gamut of Nigeria football administration and organisation of the various leagues.

Also, Dr. Emeruwa has held strategic meetings with other critical stakeholders in football as he has extracted commitments from the multinational oil company TotalEnergies Plc after paying a courtesy visit to the. Managing Director Dr. Samba Seye in Lagos.

The energetic presidential candidate has also become a toast of the media as he has made several appearances on national and international television stations, radio and newspapers houses to sell his plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit stakeholders if voted into the office.

Meanwhile, Dr. Emeruwa on Thursday attended NFF Presidential Debate organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter for the 11 persons cleared to contest for the September 30 presidential election.

Sadly, Dr. Emeruwa and current FCT Football Association, Chairman Mohammed Mouktar were the two contestants out of 11 who attended the debate which took place at Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Secretariat at Utako, Abuja.

Nine other candidates for the NFF top post did not attend the debate, although details of why they failed to show up could not be obtained as at the time of this report.

On this year’s celebration of the special day, Bunmi Haruna, the chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, says sports journalists in Nigeria are neglected and treated unfairly despite their enormous contributions to the development of the sector.

He, however, pleads with the federal government for intervention.

“As we celebrate this day, we do so with our heads held up high, knowing that we have played our roles to a large extent in the development of sports in Nigeria, but with little or no recognition,” Haruna said.

“Sports journalists in Nigeria especially in the FCT deserve more, we work so hard round the clock, most times no holidays, most people without take homes, yet we do our jobs because we are passionate about it.

“We deserve more, after the players, athletes and coaches, the sports journalists should be next.

“Taking a look at the sports federations in Nigeria will tell you how those in the profession are treated.

“While every other stakeholder is considered good enough to contribute as board members, journalists are only good enough to report them.

“We deserve more and this year is another opportunity for us to reflect on how far we have come. We celebrate every sports journalist out there, you are someone’s hero.

“We plead with Sunday Dare, minister of Sports, to as a matter of urgency prevail on the sports federations to consider including sports journalists as board members.”

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) established the World Sports Journalist Day in 1994.

The day is intended to encourage and recognise various sports journalists for their outstanding efforts on the beat.

It motivates the journalists to set good examples for future generations and inspires them to pursue a career in sports journalism.

A statement by the Minister said “I received the news of Segun Ogunjimi’s death with utmost shock and sadness in my heart.

“He was not just a dedicated journalist, but someone I knew personally because of his zeal and commitment to the activities of the Ministry.

“He was so passionate about his job, full of life and vigor. He was one of the few journalists I took personal note of on assuming office due to his unrivalled professionalism and dedication to duty.

“I recall that last year he was in my office for my birthday celebration where I granted him an exclusive interview and we took personal pictures. it’s so unfortunate that we have lost a great journalist in Segun Ogunjimi, but we cannot question God. I commiserate with his wife, son, extended family and the entire SWAN members on this sad incident.

“My prayer is that God grants the family and the sports community the fortitude to bear this huge loss. May his soul rest in peace”.

Signed
Media office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development