By: Gracious Akujobi
The Nigeria Football Federation has applauded President Goodluck Jonathan, for once more demonstrating his love for sports and by extension, the youth of this country, by retaining the visionary, hardworking and highly-focused Minister of Sports and Chairman of National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi.
Speaking on Thursday, NFF President, Aminu Maigari, expressed the delight of the Federation at the retention of the man who has broken new grounds in the office, and shown uncommon commitment to plotting a positive graph of development in the Sports Commission.
“There is no doubt that Bolaji Abdullahi is a blessing to Nigeria sports. He has been given the opportunity to serve at the right time by our dear President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Mr. Abdullahi has taken this great opportunity with both hands and is leaving his giant strides in the sands of time.
“The Minister is formulating policies and designing plans and strategies that can only take Nigeria sports to the top. He broke a major duck by fostering peace in Nigeria football, for which we can never forget him. For all these, we are grateful to President Jonathan for giving Abdullahi the opportunity,” Maigari stated.
In his 21 months in charge of the Sports Commission, Abdullahi’s strategic thinking and passion for development programmes has unfurled a brighter firmament for Nigeria sports, with the Super Eagles lifting the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years; the Super
Eagles Team B earning a first-ever African Nations Championship berth and the encouragement of a transparent system that has produced arguably the youngest U-17 National Team in history.
“I am very sure that the heads of other sports associations feel the same way as I do as President of NFF, that Abdullahi is a round peg in a round hole. As we are set to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, we commend the total dedication and efforts of the Minister of Sports in this regard,” concluded Maigari.
