Nigeria NFF President Gusau Assures Partners Of Judicious Use Of Funds

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, president of the Nigeria Football Federation, has given the organization’s corporate partners and sponsors the resounding assurance that the new NFF administration will wisely use their funds to advance the game of football in Nigeria for the benefit of all parties involved.

The NFF president, along with the previous NFF president and a member of the FIFA Council, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the NFF general secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and the director of communications, Ademola Olajire, met with a number of partners and sponsors on Monday in Lagos and had warm and insightful conversations with them. The NFF president also made an appeal for even more financial support for the Nigerian game at this time.

Pinnick’s responsibility, which Gusau saw as honorable and in the best interests of the country, was to formally introduce the new NFF President to the corporate partners, the majority of whom had been recruited by the previous helmsman.

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“For the first time in decent memory in Nigeria Football, we had a rancour-free transition from one Executive team to the other.

“It is as a result of the deep respect and strong passion for Nigeria Football and the Nigeria nation that we all share.

“It is for this reason that I have decided to introduce the new helmsman to you in order that you can continue to interact with and support him and the Federation to achieve their vision and mission,” Pinnick said at the office of MTN Nigeria (NFF’s official telecommunications partner), with Chief Executive Officer Carl Toriola, Chief Operating Officer Hassan Jaber, Chief Corporate Services Officer Tobechukwu Okigbo and Chief Marketing Officer Adia Sowho all seated.

Gusau commended MTN for their steadfast support of Nigeria Football and Nigerian sports in general in his words.

“We appreciate what you have been doing for the game of football and we want you to continue, and even do more so that the new Board can be enabled to work assiduously to lift the Nigeria game to new heights.

“We apologize for the inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the FIFA World Cup starting in Qatar next week but we want to use this opportunity to commence the hard work necessary to avoid such mis-step in the future.

“I am assuring you that whatever funds come through you will be put to judicious use as we are presently cutting down on expenses to ascent prudence and manage available resources to achieve the best results.”

Toriola retorted that his organization would not breach a long-term agreement it had made with the football federation due to a missing World Cup competition.

“We will continue to support the Federation until Nigeria football gets to the level it should be internationally.

“We must re-energize ourselves for the work at hand.

“I must commend Mr. Pinnick’s exceptional dynamism and the MTN commits to supporting the new administration.” 

The other sessions shared the same admiration and resource-management commitments, with Mr. Francis Peters, Executive Vice President of AITEO Group (the NFF’s official optimum partner), promising his organization’s ongoing support and encouragement to the new Board.

In addition to the current collaboration deal, Premier Lotto’s Managing Director, Mr. Adebisi Adebutu, stated that his company will look into other ways to support the NFF.

“I must say that we had a wonderful relationship with the Board headed by Mr. Pinnick and we believe we will have same cordial relationship with the new Board.”

Stanbic IBTC (NFF’s official bank) also pledged continued support to the NFF, through Charles Omoera, Chief Executive:

“We are particularly interested in the women’s football and youth programs you have enunciated and are ready and willing to commit to these programmes to develop Nigeria’s future legends and icons of the game.”

NFF’s chief marketing consultant, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor lauded the peaceful elections that brought in Gusau, and commended the role being played by Pinnick.

“Pinnick has stout corporate drive and high relevance, and I believe he will help the new Board in that area.

“We will give ample support to the new Board but we want you to beware of the antics of ambush marketers and put stern measures in place to discourage them.

Pamodzi Sports Marketing will be there for the new Board and will provide advice when necessary, because football is a passion that runs through the blood of every Nigerian and brings all of us together.

Sanusi added that indeed, without Pamodzi Sports Marketing, things would have been a lot more difficult for a number of NFF administrations over the past two decades.


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