Opinion

Ademola Lookman, African Player Award and The Super Eagles

Published

3 months ago

December 18, 2024

Patrick Ngwaogu (Odogwu)

Ademola Lookman’s historic triumph as the 2024 African Player of the Year marked a watershed moment not only for the talented forward but also for the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles and the Nigeria Football Federation led by Ibrahim Gusau.

Lookman’s recognition represents a monumental achievement that resonates beyond individual brilliance; it underscores the growing strength of Nigerian football and the potential of the Super Eagles as they prepare for the remaining matches of the World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

The impact of this award can be explored through multiple lenses, including boosting the morale of the team, elevating the international reputation of Nigerian football, motivating young talents, attracting global attention to Nigerian players, and influencing the tactical and strategic direction of the national team. Lookman’s success is not just about one individual—it is a victory for Nigerian football as a whole.

Born in Wandsworth, England, to Nigerian parents, Ademola Lookman’s footballing career began at Charlton Athletic. After stints at Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City, and currently, Atalanta in Italy, Lookman has emerged as one of the brightest stars in European football.

His stellar performances for Atalanta, including a historic hat-trick in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, and his instrumental role in Nigeria’s journey to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in 2023, cemented his place among the continent’s elite. The African Player of the Year award reflects his consistency, impact, and extraordinary ability to rise to big occasions.

For the Super Eagles, Lookman’s success brings numerous tangible and intangible gains that will positively influence the team in the new year, as the qualifiers begin in March.

One of the immediate gains of Lookman’s award is the significant morale boost it provides to the Super Eagles. Having a player recognized as Africa’s best serves as a powerful source of motivation for the entire squad.

Lookman’s achievement demonstrates to his teammates that success at the highest level is attainable. The realization that a fellow team member can compete and win against the best players on the continent will inspire others to work harder and strive for similar recognition. Such individual accolades foster a winning mentality within the team, driving players to believe in their ability to achieve greatness on both personal and team levels.

For a team like the Super Eagles, which thrives on passion, energy, and unity, Lookman’s success can serve as a rallying point for upcoming competitions, including the World Cup qualifiers and the next AFCON tournament. It creates a positive atmosphere, builds team cohesion, and strengthens the players’ resolve to win titles for Nigeria.

Lookman’s triumph on such a prestigious stage elevates the reputation of Nigerian football globally. Historically, Nigeria has produced some of Africa’s most celebrated footballers, including Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, Rashidi Yekini, and Victor Ikpeba. However, in recent years, the Super Eagles have struggled to replicate their dominance on the continental stage, leading to concerns about the team’s trajectory.

Lookman’s success provides a reminder of Nigeria’s rich footballing heritage and reaffirms the country’s status as a powerhouse of African football. By winning the African Player of the Year award, Lookman joins an exclusive list of Nigerian legends who have achieved this feat, such as Kanu and Emmanuel Amunike.

This recognition highlights the talent and depth within Nigerian football, helping to restore the country’s reputation as a breeding ground for world-class footballers. The global spotlight on Lookman also shines brightly on his Super Eagles teammates, creating opportunities for them to gain greater visibility and recognition.

Lookman’s journey to becoming Africa’s best is a powerful inspiration for aspiring young footballers in Nigeria and the diaspora. Many Nigerian youths dream of emulating their footballing heroes, and Lookman’s success offers a tangible example of what hard work, dedication, and perseverance can achieve.

His story—one of overcoming challenges, adapting to various leagues across Europe, and seizing opportunities on big stages—serves as a lesson for young players to stay focused on their goals. The visibility of his success will encourage academies across Nigeria to invest more in nurturing talent, knowing that their efforts can produce players of Lookman’s caliber.

Moreover, Lookman’s success as a dual-national player who chose to represent Nigeria over England reinforces the pride of wearing the Super Eagles jersey. It sends a clear message to other Nigerian players in the diaspora: that success can still be achieved while representing their country of origin. Lookman’s decision to represent Nigeria and his subsequent triumph will motivate more dual-national players to commit to the Super Eagles, strengthening the team’s talent pool.

Winning the African Player of the Year award has also brought increased attention to Nigerian players on the global stage. Clubs, scouts, and football enthusiasts worldwide will now pay closer attention to Nigeria’s football ecosystem.

This recognition will benefit not just Lookman but also other members of the Super Eagles, as it enhances their market value and visibility. European clubs will now be more willing to scout and sign Nigerian players, knowing the country produces world-class talent. Lookman’s performances and subsequent recognition will make other Nigerian players more appealing in the global transfer market.

This exposure can lead to more Nigerian players moving to top European clubs, where they can develop their skills further, gain experience, and bring that quality back to the national team. In essence, Lookman’s success serves as a spotlight, putting Nigerian footballers on the radar of global football stakeholders.

Lookman’s style of play, versatility, and individual brilliance are assets to the Super Eagles’ tactical framework. His ability to play as a winger, forward, or attacking midfielder provides the team with flexibility and unpredictability in attack.

Winning the African Player of the Year award underscores his importance to the team and will encourage the coaching staff to build the squad around his strengths.

Furthermore, Lookman’s success will be meaningful and push other players to improve their performance to the five outstanding matches in the world cup qualifiers. his level, fostering healthy competition within the squad.

Winning an individual award often brings out a player’s leadership qualities, as they are seen as role models within the team.

Lookman’s achievement positions him as a leader and inspiration for the Super Eagles.

Ademola Lookman’s victory as the African Player of the Year is a defining moment for both the player and the Super Eagles. His achievement goes beyond individual accolades; it represents the resurgence of Nigerian football and reaffirms the country’s status as a football powerhouse.

The gains for the Super Eagles are numerous and far-reaching. From boosting team morale and inspiring young players to elevating the reputation of Nigerian football and attracting global attention, Lookman’s success has set the stage for a brighter future.

(Patrick Ngwaogu is the Executive Director of www.exclusivenews.com.ng)

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Business

Tax Reform Bills: The Verdict of Nigerians

Published

2 weeks ago

March 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Ismaila Ahmad Abdullahi Ph.D

The public hearings conducted recently by the two Chambers of the National Assembly have elicited positive responses from a broad spectrum of Nigerians, cutting across regional interest groups, government agencies, civil society groups, concerned individuals, the academia, and Labour Unions, among diverse others. Contrary to a few dissensions hitherto expressed in the media, almost all the stakeholders who spoke during the week-long sessions were unanimous in their declaration that the hallowed Chambers should pass the tax reform bills after a clean-up of the grey areas.

The public hearings were auspicious for all Nigerians desirous of economic growth and fiscal responsibility. They were also a watershed moment for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which had been upbeat about the tax reforms. Indeed, the public hearings had rekindled hope in the tenets of democracy that guarantee freedom of expression and equitable space for cross-fertilisation of ideas. Without gainsaying the fact, the tax reform bills have been unarguably about the most thought-provoking issues in Nigeria today, drawing variegated perspectives and commentaries from even unlikely quarters such as the faith-based leaders, student bodies, and trade unions, which speaks much about the importance of the bills.

In the build-up to the public hearings, not many people believed that the bills would make it to the second reading, much less the public hearings. Even the Northern stakeholders who seemed unlikely to support the passage of the bills have softened their stance and have given valuable suggestions that would enrich the substance of the bills. The Arewa Consultative Forum came to the public hearings well-prepared with a printed booklet that addressed their concerns. It concluded with an advisory that the bills should be “Well planned, properly communicated, strategically implemented and ample dialogue and political consensus allowed for the reforms to be accepted.”

The concerns of ACF ranged from the composition of the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Board as contained in Part 111, Section 7 of the bill, the unlimited Presidential power to exempt/wave tax payment as proposed in Section 75(1) of the bill, the family income or inheritance tax as contained in Part 1, Section 4(3) of the bill, to the issues around development levy and VAT. On the development levy, the ACF stated that unless the Federal Government is considering budgetary funding for TETFUND, NASENI and NITDA, it does not see the “wisdom behind the plan to replace (them) with NELFUND”.

The position of the North was equally reinforced by the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Northern Elders Forum, Kano State Government, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, and the FCT Imams. Like the ACF, these stakeholders lent their respective voices to the Section on the Inheritance Tax in Part 1 of the bill and the use of the term ‘ecclesiastical’, which, in their views, undermines certain religious rights and beliefs. The Kano State Government, represented by Mahmud Sagagi, affirmed that “we support tax modernisation” but cautioned that “we must ensure that this process does not come at the expense of states’ constitutional rights and economic stability”. Professor Auwalu Yadudu, a constitutional law professor, drew attention to the use of the ‘supremacy clause’ and cautioned that the repeated use of “notwithstanding” in the bills would undermine the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution if passed as such.

Other stakeholders that made contributions at the sessions included the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, and a host of others. While most of their concerns bordered on technical issues requiring fine-tuning, they were unanimous in their support for the bills. They aligned with the position of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, Ph.D. and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, which is that the extant tax laws and fiscal regulations are obsolete necessitating reforms aimed at creating a fair and equitable tax and fiscal space to grow Nigeria’s economy.

In one of the sessions, Dr Zaach Adedeji expounded on the criss-cross of trade activities in the Free Trade Zone whereby companies misuse tax waivers as exporters to sell their goods or services in the Customs Area at an amount usually less than the price the operators in the Customs Area who pay VAT and other taxes sell theirs thereby disrupting business transactions. This way, the operators in the Free Trade Zone shortchange the government in paying their due taxes by circumventing extant regulations, which are inimical to the economy’s growth.

Overall, the presentations were forthright, foresighted, and helpful in elucidating the issues contained in the bills. According to the statistics read out at the end of the hearings at the Senate, 75 stakeholders were invited, 65 made submissions, and 61 made presentations. At the House of Representatives 53 stakeholders made presentations. By all means, this is a fair representation. Given the presentations, it is evident that the National Assembly has gathered enough materials to guide its deliberations on the bills. As we look forward to the passage of the bills, we commend the leadership of the National Assembly for their unwavering commitment to making the bills see the light of the day.

Abdullahi is the Director of the Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS.

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