Buhari to FIFA: Nigeria is one of your greatest assets

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja declared his administration’s commitment to use football for the development of the girl-child, inspiring young people to have rewarding careers in the game.

Receiving the FIFA delegation led by its president Gianni Infantino and the president of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe, at State House, the President called on the top echelon of football’s world governing body to see Nigeria as one of its greatest assets when it comes to the development of football.

On women’s football, the President expressed delight that Nigeria has produced excellent role models to inspire the next generation of stars to take up the sport.

“Our National women’s football team, the Super Falcons are a force to reckon with both on the continent and internationally.

“Some of our women footballers such as Asisat Oshoala, who only recently became the first African to win the women’s European Champions League with her club Barcelona.

“Rasheedat Ajibade, Rita Chikwelu, Onome Ebi, who is the only African to have played in five FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals, Desire Oparanozie and before them Perpetual Nkwocha, Mercy Akide-Udoh, Nkiru Okosieme and Ann Chiejiene are globally recognized stars,” he said.

Buhari, therefore, urged the leadership of the world football governing body to consider Nigeria top on its plan for support and investment.

The President also told the visiting FIFA president, who is in the country for the six-nation Aisha Buhari Invitational Football Tournament, that since 2017 his administration had adopted football as a national asset.

He explained that the sport is being accorded the highest level of attention possible by the government to enable rapid development of abundant talents in the country.

“I have also approved the unveiling of a committee to draw up a 10-year football development master plan for the country.

“I expect that the recommendations of this committee will accelerate the development of football. It is my hope that it will further improve the fortunes of the game internationally,” he said.

On the Aisha Buhari Cup (ABC), with the theme “Playing for Good”, which is on-going in Lagos, the Nigerian leader said the tournament could not have come at a better time.

“This Women’s football competition is a novel idea here and I am sure it will be exciting in its execution for our women folk and lovers of football.

“It is also a confirmation of what we already know about our women,” he said.

The President thanked FIFA for making ABC, a ranking tournament, adding that he looks forward to more countries joining to participate in the future.

Buhari, who described football as one of the greatest sources of unity in the country as well as in many parts of the world, said: “Our hearts beat as one anytime our teams are playing a football match. Our youths are always positively engaged when our national football teams are on assignment.

“Without any doubts here, football is a major tool of national unity.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said Nigeria, as the leading black nation in the world, was central to all that FIFA is seeking to achieve in its football development plan.

“We love football and we follow the game passionately,” he said.

In his remarks, Infantino renewed FIFA’s commitment to support the development of football in Nigeria, pledging to strengthen its partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation.

“Nigeria is a big football playing country. We need Nigeria to lead the football movement in the world, together with Africa as a continent,” he said.

The FIFA president thanked President Buhari for supporting the development of the game, appealing to him to help FIFA amplify the message of football as a uniting force.

“When football is played there are no divisions in a nation or continent. Football brings people together and to do that we need important countries like Nigeria,” he said.