The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday explained why the members always cast their vote of confidence in the leadership of its President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
Speaking in Abuja, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, stressed that the Executive Committee is enamoured at the quality of ideas, energy and drive of Pinnick, a former Chairman of Delta State Football Association.
“If you patiently take stock of the list of achievements of the NFF in the past one year that Mr. Pinnick has been President, you would give him immense credit. The beauty of it all is that he carries all the members along in everything he is doing, and invariably listens to superior argument.
“Personally, I enjoy the meetings and I always make sure to be present, because the President makes everyone feel a part of it, he brings up excellent ideas and allows these to be debated. Everyone contributes.”
Yahaya-Kwande, who is a ranking Member of the House of Representatives, explained that the camaraderie within the Executive Committee has not been witnessed in any NFF Board for a long time now.
“Steadily, we are unveiling the various programs that we have for Nigeria football and we believe that our people will be delighted. Next week, there will be a major pronouncement on our youth development program. But I don’t want to reveal this now.
“What we want is the support of everyone. In the last one year, there has been capacity –building programs that have impacted positively on the League and attracted greater recognition from FIFA and CAF for our referees; FIFA elite courses for referees and CAF courses for coaches; prioritization of Coaches and Players’ welfare; robust support for the LMC to continue to improve the NPFL brand; the signing of a kit sponsorship deal with a global brand; intensive drive by the President to sell Nigeria football globally and; aggressive marketing drive to attract private sector support.”
At its inception, the Amaju Pinnick administration outlined its vision thus: “To build a sustainable football culture for the country, satisfying the yearnings of scores of millions of our people through ensuring football activities all –year round, and also focusing on genuine developmental programs while availing the various National Teams adequate support to fly the nation’s flag high at all international competitions.”
Yahaya-Kwande stated that the Board is united in fulfilling this vision: “We are solidly behind our leader, Mr. Amaju Pinnick. He is working very hard and carrying the Board along in everything he is doing. We are also giving support in every way we can. There is no schism in the NFF Executive Committee.”