By Harry Awurumibe
As part of his continuous engagements with critical stakeholders within and outside football, Dr. Christian Emeruwa in the early hours of Wednesday met with the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Nigeria Plc, Dr Samba Seye in Lagos to discuss the strategic plans for football in Nigeria and to explore potential partnership with the multi-national organisation when he comes to power.
Dr. Emeruwa who is the leading candidate in the forthcoming Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) presidential election billed for September 30 in Benin City, Edo state, said the meeting with TotalEnergies supremo in Nigeria was very fruitful.
According to the Head of Safety and Security Department of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) the meeting with TotalEnergies boss could not have come at a better time as he wants to use his international connections to leverage football if he is voted into office.
Recall that TotalEnergies is the Main Sponsor of all CAF competitions and this is something that Dr. Emeruwa feel strongly that TotalEnergies need to be strategic partners with Nigeria Football Federation especially considering the number of years Total has done oil business in Nigeria.
The TotalEnergies boss disclosed to Dr. Emeruwa that his organisation will be much interested in supporting the plan by Dr Emeruwa to set up one football academy in each geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
According to Dr. Emeruwa, the MD is open to the idea of having one football academy in each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria even as he believes that the NFF can be a leading Federation in Africa if someone like Dr. Emeruwa who understands the dynamics of football administrations and organisation becomes the President.
Said he: “Dr. Seye stated that he believes strongly that with the wealth of experience of Dr Emeruwa he will be able to provide a kind of leadership that will attract other major investors to Nigeria football and he looks forward to a successful NFF election that will translate into positive leadership of Nigeria football.
