By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Football is first about the footballers and then the clubs. Without those two, there will be no need for a football association or federation.
With these words, an internationally recognised sports management expert, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, officially announced his desire to run for the exalted position of the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the next Elective Congress billed for
September.
Declaring his interest to replace the incumbent NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick at Sunday Dankaro House, Abuja, via the various social media platforms including Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook, he said he will be a breath of fresh air in the administration and management of football in Nigeria.
Emeruwa who is the Founder and Head, Safety and Security Department of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) in its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, said he is aspiring to lead the NFF of the 21st Century to reposition Nigeria football to meet the international standard.
In exclusive interview with Prompt News over the weekend, Emeruwa who is on working visit to Nigeria revealed that he has used the opportunity to meet in-person with Nigerian
football stakeholders especially “the power brokers” to intimate them of his Vision for Nigeria football.
Said he: “My declaration to run for the exalted post of the President of NFF did not just happen. I have thought of it for a long time and I consulted widely, reaching out to those who matter in Nigeria sports especially football stakeholders and I am convinced I will offer something better in the administration and management of football in Nigeria”.
“I have met with present and former NFF Presidents, General Secretaries and Board Members as well as many Football Association Chairmen across the country to intimate them of my interest to come back home to replicate what I have seen and learned in FIFA and CAF where I have worked”.
Emeruwa disclosed that even before his public declaration of intention, he had made wide consultations and if given the opportunity, he will transform Nigerian football and football organisation as well as administration.
According to him: “I have observed how football has developed in other countries, am determined to replicate this in Nigeria and ensure that our local league will rank among the best in the continent”.
Emeruwa who holds Ph.D in Administration and Organization of Sports from University of Ibadan; Masters Degree in Administration and Organization of Sports from same university and Bachelor’s Degree in Physical and Health Education from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife as well as MBA in Leadership and Management from York St. John University among other qualifications said he is well equipped to lead Nigeria football at this moment.
Said he: “my burning desire is to help Nigeria football reach its potentials hence, I will ensure that there is proper installation of structures that will ensure local football development that will ensure that home based players are straightened to compete for positions in the national team”.
To show his seriousness in the quest for the NFF top position, Emeruwa has in a first of its kind in the history of election campaign for the post of NFF President gone digital by releasing a 10-minute audiovisual documentary on digital platforms to officially make a declaration for the NFF Presidency.
Also, he will be the first Nigerian working for an International Federation to seek for the key position of the NFF.
Emeruwa in declaring his intention to contest for the presidency has changed the complexion of campaign in the organisation as this has never happened in the annals of the organisation founded in 1945.
According to him, he is not just an office-seeker, but one who wants to transmit the experience he has garnered serving an international federation and having the opportunity to interact with 52 football associations in Africa and many others across the globe while on FIFA assignments.
Before his adventure at CAF, he had worked in the Nigerian Football Federation for 11 years and served under three General Secretaries- Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, Musa Ahmadu and the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
If Emeruwa, the former Integrity Officer and later Head of Safety and Security Unit of NFF succeeds this mission, he will be the most erudite person to head the Nigerian football organisation in the recent time, perhaps after late Justice Chuba Ikpeazu and Samson Emeka Omeruah who also earned a Ph.D from the University of Lagos in addition to degrees from Punjab University, India and Auburn University in the United States.
On this, he is therefore the most imbued to deliver an NFF that will not just be aspiring to take teams to international competitions, but one that will be formidable contestant as well as being well equipped to develop the local football through installation of workable structures.
