Sports
Akinwunmi, Abba Yola, Leads in Race To Succeed Pinnick As NFF President
By Akeem Busari
The pitch is getting higher and the pace, faster, as several Nigerian football stakeholders have thrown their hats into the ring, indicating their readiness to succeed incumbent NFF President Amaju Pinnick at the next NFF General Assembly tentatively slated to hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, August 13, 2022.
Ahead of the NFF Congress, the Nigerian football atmosphere is heated with lots of politicking, innuendoes and mudslinging happening. While some caucuses are not making their plans to nick the NFF President seat open, major stakeholders in Northern Nigeria, have openly showed their hands by calling a meeting for August 8, 2022, during the annual Sharif Ahlan Inuwa pre-season football tournament in Kano.
Several individuals have supposedly expressed their intentions to succeed the incumbent NFF President Amaju Pinnick at the next NFF General Assembly tentatively slated to hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. And it is not for nothing.
Like the honey is attractive to a bee, the allure of the office of NFF presidency has equally thrown up football administrators and former Nigerian players like Idah Peterside, Jonathan Akpoborie, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Musa Amadu, Benedict Akwuegbu, Christian Emeruwa, Ibrahim Gusau, Mohammed Mouktar, Seyi Akinwunmi, Abba Yola and Daniel Amokachi.
In this special report, it is well to say this field of aspirants is interesting and attractive. However, the report here is focused on two of the most attractive aspirants with high chances of succeeding Amaju Pinnick. Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and Alhaji Abba Abdulahi Yola.
Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is the current 1st Vice-President of NFF and the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association. He has a track record of being one of the brightest brains in Nigerian football, and particularly, on the present NFF board. Akinwunmi is a great developer of grassroots football and responsible for the achievements of Nigerian youths football teams in recent times.
His mien and dispositions at all times portrays a classic gentleman with a focused mind on his set goals. Beyond everything else, he is a master strategist, who knows how to play the politics of the game, and win favours. He is, indeed, a strong candidate to succeed Pinnick.
Alhaji Abba Abdulahi Yola, is a former athlete and veteran sports administrator with several decades of impactful experience. Abba Yola, who is presently the Chief of Staff to Minister of sports, Sunday Dare, has been involved in activities and committees aimed at the development of Nigerian football. His desires to become the new NFF President is buoyed by his administrative experience, integrity, diligence and vast goodwill with a network of local and international brands garnered over several decades.
Many discerning Nigerian football stakeholders and aficionados believe he has the zeal and determination to change the narratives of Nigerian football and return the glorious days of Nigeria, as one of the best football countries in the world. In the search for a credible, honest, patriotic, responsible and experienced NFF President, Abba Yola, stands tall. Much more, his ability to create a synergy and harmonious relationship between government and Nigerian football, would be very instrumental to the desired goals for a better Nigerian football.
Sports
Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit
Joel Ajayi
The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.
In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.
With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.
The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.
Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.
Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.
Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.
The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.
Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.
“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent.
We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.
He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.
The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.
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