NFF Congressmen for Leadership Training in the UK

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalised arrangements for taking members of its congress on a four-day leadership training programme in the United Kingdom.

Already, the persons in the first batch of the programme, which runs between 4th and 7th December in London, have secured entry visas into the United Kingdom for a training which quality is underscored by the capacity of the resource persons and the keen interest of the private sector.

Top NFF officials confirmed Tuesday that leading airline, ARIK, top bank Zenith Bank Plc and the Frot Group are the sponsors of the elite programme.

There are 20 persons in the first batch, made up principally of chairmen of state Football Associations (FAs), and including the General Secretary of NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

“The chairmen of the state FAs are the first-line charge for real development of the game at the grassroots. They also constitute the primary constituency of stakeholders.

“We are happy to have been able to arrange this programme for them, and I can assure you that the impact of this programme on the development of Nigeria football will be felt in the months and years to come,” observed NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire in a statement.

Among the resource persons for the four-day programme are Chairman of The Football Association, Mr. Greg Dyke; Chief Executive of The Premier League, Mr. Richard Scudamore; former Chairman of The Premier League, Sir Dave Richards and; former Vice Chairman of Arsenal Football Club, Mr. David Dein.

“The present NFF administration is committed to building/enhancing the capacity of all workers in the game of football. Over the course of the past year, we have organised capacitybuilding programmes for referees and coaches in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. This is an on-going exercise.

“I want to that other sectors of the sport will also benefit, as we look to improve the capacity of everyone involved in the beautiful game,” added NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick.

The Managing Director of Frot Group, Mr. Frank Momoh, and the Managing Director of Zenith Bank in London will also be at the programme.

Among those in the first batch are Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Chairman of Chairmen); Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi (Osun); Amanze Uchegbulam (Imo); Busari Ishola (Kwara); Mohammed Alkali (Nasarawa); Yahuza Adamu (Bauchi); Abubakar Ladan (Kebbi); Oswald Atuake (Cross River); Frank Ilaboya (Edo); Margaret Icheen (Benue); Abdulkadir Magaji (Kaduna), James Odeniran (Oyo); Chidi Ofo Okenwa (Enugu) and; Porbeni Ogun (Bayelsa).

The second batch will go in January 2016.