The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick, has explained why he invited business moguls, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola to the FIFA Best Awards ceremony in London on Monday night.
The 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it was an opportunity for them to meet those running world football and to discuss future partnership that will boost Nigerian football.
Pinnick said: “Alhaji Dangote is perhaps the biggest business brand in Africa, and one of Nigeria’s leading Ambassadors. I am very happy to be in a position to invite himself and Mr. Otedola to such an event of global stature and essence.
“As a nation, it is important that we continue to showcase our best brands in all fields. Doing this enhances the stock of our country globally. Alhaji Dangote and Mr. Otedola were happy to meet the world’s top governors of football and the football governors were also happy to meet them.
“Our objective as a Football Federation is to attain financial autonomy so that the government can channel resources otherwise taken up by football into other critical sectors, and we believe that if we have persons like Dangote and Otedola partnering with Nigerian Football, we will get there faster.
“The NFF has invited Alhaji Dangote to a couple of matches previously, including the friendly match with England in London before the FIFA World Cup in Russia, but he was unable to attend. Now, we are discussing with him on a relationship with Nigerian Football and he is showing immense interest.”
