Sports
NFF Ref Committee Sabotaging the Progress of Nigerian International Referees-Report
Joel Ajayi
Over the years, Nigeria Referees have not been seen featuring in CAF and FIFA matches and efforts to correct this irregularity is being frustrated by the NFF Referees Committee as they set to divert the $60,000 sent by FIFA as palliative for Referees Development into payment of their sitting allowance.
There is no doubt NFF as a federation was conscious of most recent of technological trends of innovations and development in the training and development of Referees, which is the Refereeing Cloud Platform (RCP).
In view of this, NFF approved that the part of the released dedicated fund for Refereeing Development to the Referees’ Committee from the FIFA Palliatives be used for this purpose. The amount required is meager compared to the long-lasting benefits to be derived.
THE GLEAMER NEWS gathered that the Chairman and members of the Refereeing Committee feels otherwise by jettison the priority of the Refereeing and hinged more on their personal benefits.
According to information gathered by THE GLEAMER NEWS “After securing approval for the money to be used to ensure timely installation so that Referees for the World Cup will be able to benefit and secure a place in the final listing, the committee concluded arrangement to divert the fund to pay outstanding sitting allowances owed it.
“This is not only misappropriation of allocation but a case of sabotaging the nation’s aspiration to register its name at the forthcoming Women World Cup as well as the opportunity to link Nigeria with the global highway in the sustainable Refereeing development process.”
Sports
“ This Award Gives Me Hope” Makanjuola Nureni Honoured for His Dedication to Nigerian Sports
Abuja-based football administrator and philanthropist, Makanjuola Nureni, has been honoured with the Distinguished Service Award by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in recognition of his outstanding support to sports journalism and his immense contributions to sports development in Nigeria.
The prestigious award was presented on Friday in Abuja during SWAN’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration held in Abuja, marking 60 years of promoting sports journalism and excellence across the nation.
Expressing his gratitude after receiving the honour, Makanjuola Nureni described the award as a source of inspiration and renewed motivation to continue his lifelong commitment to youth and grassroots sports.
“This award gives me hope and motivation to do more. It’s a source of inspiration to me and my supporters, and I believe it will encourage us to invest more in youth sports development in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the recognition serves as a morale booster after decades of hard work and silent impact in the sports community.
“I feel happy and fulfilled because we have been doing this for decades, and many times, our efforts went unnoticed. But I thank God that SWAN recognized people like us,” Nureni expressed.
Makanjuola Nureni is the founder and owner of Water FC Academy, a renowned football institution based in Abuja that focuses on discovering, nurturing, and empowering young Nigerian talents.
Through Water FC, he has developed and sponsored numerous players who have gone on to represent Nigeria’s national teams and play professionally in clubs across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
His consistency, passion, and investment in the development of young athletes have made him a key figure in Nigerian grassroots football.
In presenting the award, SWAN commended Nureni’s unwavering dedication to the growth of sports and his continuous support for sports journalism and youth empowerment.
The association highlighted his decades-long service to football development and described him as a true partner in the promotion of excellence within Nigerian sports.
The SWAN Diamond Jubilee Celebration brought together prominent figures from sports administration, the media, and government sectors to honour individuals and organizations whose contributions have advanced sports development and journalism in Nigeria.
Nureni’s recognition stands out as a testament to his vision, consistency, and commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes and strengthening the foundation of Nigerian football.
With this honour, Makanjuola Nureni further cements his legacy as one of the foremost private contributors to sports growth and youth development in Nigeria.
His story continues to inspire a new generation of sports administrators and philanthropists dedicated to transforming Nigerian sports from the grassroots up.
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