The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nff

  • African Icon of the Year: NFF hails AITEO boss Peters on award

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated the founder of AITEO Group, Mr Benedict Peters on his award as African Icon of the Year at the recent Foreign Investment Network (FIN) and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources Honorary Patrons Dinner and Awards Night.

    Peters is the Founder and President of AITEO Group, Nigeria’s leading energy Solution Company and the Official Optimum Sponsor of the Nigeria Football Federation. The company also sponsors the annual Federation Cup competition and picks the bills for the NFF-AITEO Football Awards, another annual event.

    The energy company also bankrolls the CAF African Football Awards, yet another annual event for which it recently penned a four –year agreement with the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Pinnick, said on Wednesday: “On behalf of the NFF and the entire Nigerian football fraternity, I would like to congratulate Mr Peters on yet another award. This is another feather to his cap. It is also the latest in a long and growing list of accolades for an outstanding gentleman, an international business mogul with a difference and a proud son of Nigeria and Africa.

    “This award is not a surprise to me as a person, and certainly not a surprise to any member of the NFF Board. It simply underscores the quality and character of the leading figure of a major partner of the NFF.

  • NFF mourns passing of Fashikun

    The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed shock and sadness over the death on Sunday morning in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja of renowned sports journalist, Olajide Fashikun.

    The NFF learnt from sources close to the late Fashikun that he died at a federal hospital in Abuja on Sunday morning.

    On behalf of the entire Nigerian Football family, the NFF prays that God Almighty will grant the soul of the departed Olajide Fashikun eternal rest in His bosom, and also grant those he has left behind including his immediate family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

  • NFF congratulates Financial Consultant, Bismarck Rewane

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday congratulated the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane on his appointment as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on New Minimum Wage.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated the committee, just before the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the year 2019. The committee is a technical advisory body on the implementation of the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    Financial Derivatives Company Limited is the Financial Consultant of the NFF.

    In his congratulatory message, President of the NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, noted that the NFF has always been convinced of the integrity, capacity and competence of Rewane, whose hard work and diligence has taken Financial Derivatives Company Limited to the very top in Nigeria’s economic circle.

    “When the present NFF Board came into office, we sought advice on the most respected and credible company to make our Financial Consultants, and Financial Derivatives Company Limited came highly recommended. We did not hesitate to appoint the company. The company has also become our Financial Adviser.

    “We trust that Rewane and his committee will do a great job to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Buhari.”

  • Buhari never ordered arrest of Pinnick – Presidency

    The Presidency has described as `fake news’ a press release in circulation, to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the arrest and prosecution of Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    A report went viral in social media in the last 24 hours indicating that there were palpable fears in the country’s football family following alleged President Buhari’s directive for the prosecution of Amaju Pinnick, over a litany of corruption allegations levelled against him.

    “The allegations which also involved funds embezzlement are in billions of naira,’’ the report quoted.

    But, a presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, dismissed the report as untrue and false.

    He said: “This is fake news because anyone familiar with the President’s unmitigated and unshakable commitment to the due processes of the law will not make such assumptions of the President.

    “The position of the President that allegations of criminal nature should be addressed only by investigation and law enforcement agencies, within the framework of the law has not changed.

    “It is not in the nature of President Buhari to say go and arrest that man or woman as formed the practice in the past.

    “Rather, he allows all allegations of this nature to be addressed using the mechanism of the rule of law even as law enforcement and investigation agencies should not in any way be hampered in performing their duties.

    “At the same time, nobody should drop names to seek to influence the course of those investigations.’’ (NAN)

  • We are accountable to people — NFF

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reiterated its commitment to building a transparent federation which is interactive with people and open to constructive criticisms.

    Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, the President of the body, Amaju Pinnick stated that the transparency of the Glasshouse is what is attracting sponsors to them continually, as they aim to take football sponsorship from the government, but there is need to consolidate the relationship between the NFF and sponsors the more.

    According to Pinnick, “We are accountable to the people. We want to build a very robust football federation that is quite interactive, where people can even criticize us constructively and advise us on steps to take, to be much more successful.

    Explaining the transparency of the football house, Pinnick, who doubles as the first Vice-President of CAF said “Sponsors do not have anything to lose if they leave us alone. So we need to convince them and tell them why they should put money into football.

    “They were very happy seeing our financial details of the year published in various newspapers. What more proof do you need to show that you are working with people with credibility?”

    Pinnick further refuted claims that the Super Falcons were being neglected, while more attention is given to the Super Eagles.  He accepted that the body truly did not start well with the female team, but believes that everyone is now happy.

    “I only make people understand that there are some points (like the 208 World Cup) where we need to focus on our main brand, the Super Eagles. The Super Falcons are the most successful female football team in World Football, not just in Africa. They have nine African titles, Germany has eight in Europe and the United States has eight in CONCACAF.

    “I take responsibility that we did not star well with the Super Falcons, but so far, we have made them happy and every promise we have made to them has been fulfilled,” he said.

  • NNL boss Olopade dares Pinnick, NFF over Congress’ decisions

    After the NFF board meeting in Asaba, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) mandated NNL chairman Chidi Ofor Okenwa to immediately convene a congress of stakeholders to take a decision which would be ratified by the executive committee in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problems associated with NPFL’s abrupt end to the season in week 24 but in a related development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigeria National league NNL, Bukola Olopade, in a telephone conversation with Nigeria Sports Mouthpiece (NSM), regretted the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation in our football, insisting that there was no going back on the resolution reached at the NNL congress in Abuja.

    ”At that meeting, the NNL took the decision not to go ahead with the Super 8 which could have paved way for the best four teams to get promotion to the NPFL, Instead, they had decided that all eight teams must get promoted under the present circumstances.

    ”In supporting that position, the NNL said the Congress of the NPFL did not consult it before arriving at the decision not to relegate any team, meaning they never recognised the fact that whatever decision they took, will have a direct bearing on the NNL. Based on that, the NNL has pressed the war button as they intend to go toe to toe with the LMC, organisers of the NPFL on this matter.

    “We cannot be made to swallow their vomit, Olopade said. We have taken our decision and they must learn to live with it. At the last NFF meeting in Asaba, they asked that we go and take a decision in the best interest of the game and whatever decision we take, they will approve. We have done just that and we see no reason why anyone will want to go contrary.”

    “If anything is done, different from the decision reached by the NNL congress in Abuja, I, Bukola Olopade will activate my earlier resignation from the position of chief executive officer, CEO of the NNL with immediate effect.”

    ”Perhaps you don’t know that I resigned five months ago but was persuaded to stay on by my good friend Amaju Pinnick, till the end of the season.

    ”I have been asking a few questions and will not stop asking:

    1. Why did the LMC end the league to go to Russia for the World Cup?
    2. Why on earth did they decide to end the season abruptly?
    3. Why did they decide not to relegate any of the 20 teams in the division? Why didn’t they consult us, if they know that we are partners in progress?
    4. Why must the NNL bear the brunt of their actions or inactions?
    5. Where did the NNL go wrong in all of these?

    “It is only when they provide answers to my many questions that I will take them seriously, if not, we stand by our decision to promote eight teams and there is no going back on that,” he concluded.

  • NFF thanks Aiteo founder Benedict Peters

    The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) lauded Benedict Peters for the role Aiteo Group played in redefining football in Nigeria and creating the enabling factors for the Super Eagles to qualify after missing out on back-to-back editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

    In a message to the founder and Executive Vice President of the Aiteo group, Benedict Peters, the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick lauded him and the Aiteo group for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    According to Pinnick, “Aiteo Group has redefined Nigerian football and have put smiles on the faces of Nigerians. He added that Nigerians are currently celebrating the qualification for AFCON 2019 after two successive misses, and the generality of Nigerians have now joined us in recognizing the role Aiteo played…”

    “Dear Mr Benedict Peters, kindly accept my sincerest gratitude to your esteemed self and the Aiteo Group for redefining Nigerian football and putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians. Today, everybody is celebrating Nigeria’s qualification for AFCON 2019 after two successive misses, and the generality of Nigerians have now joined us in recognizing the role Aiteo played. Once again, I doff my hat and a big thank you.”

    In June 2017, Aiteo followed up this sponsorship with a fresh N2.5billion agreement to underwrite the cost of the Federation Cup, now renamed Aiteo Cup, which they have taken to greater heights, adding glamour and colour to the game, and making it the largest televised finals in the history of the FA. This sponsorship ignited renewed public interest in the competition with the record crowd attendance at the 2018 final serving as testament.

    In October 2017, Benedict Peters took his philanthropy and corporate social investment beyond Nigeria’s borders when Aiteo announced a partnership agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to sponsor the Annual CAF Awards 2018. The event, now called the AITEO-CAF Awards, honours footballers who have made outstanding contributions to the development of football development on the continent.

  • NFF thanks Aiteo after Eagles AFCON qualification

    The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has lauded Aiteo Group, for the role the energy company played in redefining football in Nigeria and creating the enabling factors which have led to the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2019 African Cup of Nations after two previous failed attempts.

    The senior national team secured the much coveted AFCON ticket in Johannesburg over the weekend after playing a 1-1 draw with South Africa that happen to be Eagles closest rival for the AFCON ticket.

    NFF President, Amaju Pinnick reckoned that Nigerians are happy with the milestone recorded by the Super Eagles and has remained grateful for those that have given the team their backing and supports financially and morally.

    Pinnick could not mince his word to mention the founder and Executive Vice President of the Aiteo group, Benedict Peters among others staying that the company has continuously powered the national team with unflinching support wordy of recommendation and applause.

    According to Pinnick, “Aiteo Group has redefined Nigerian football and have put smiles on the faces of Nigerians. He added that Nigerians are currently celebrating the qualification for AFCON 2019 after two successive misses, and the generality of Nigerians have now joined us in recognizing the role Aiteo played…”

    His words, “Dear Mr Benedict Peters, kindly accept my sincerest gratitude to your esteemed self and the Aiteo Group for redefining Nigerian football and putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians. Today, everybody is celebrating Nigeria’s qualification for AFCON 2019 after two successive misses, and the generality of Nigerians have now joined us in recognizing the role Aiteo played. Once again, I doff my hat and a big thank you.”  

    Aiteo is currently Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil and gas company by output. In April 2017, Aiteo announced a five-year partnership agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) worth an estimated N2.5billion.

    This partnership saw the Group emerging as the NFF’s Official Optimum Partner and funding the salaries of coaching staff of the Super Eagles, a move which is believed by many as the singular most important factor that led to Nigeria’s emergence as the first African nation to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    In June 2017, Aiteo followed up this sponsorship with a fresh N2.5billion agreement to underwrite the cost of the Federation Cup, now renamed Aiteo Cup, which they have taken to greater heights, adding glamour and colour to the game, and making it the largest televised finals in the history of the FA. This sponsorship ignited renewed public interest in the competition with the record crowd attendance at the 2018 final serving as testament.

    In October 2017, Benedict Peters took his philanthropy and corporate social investment beyond Nigeria’s borders when Aiteo announced a partnership agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to sponsor the Annual CAF Awards 2018. The event, now called the AITEO-CAF Awards, honours footballers who have made outstanding contributions to the development of football development on the continent.

  • NFF drags Dangote, Otedola to FIFA Awards

    Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has continued to hobnob with Nigeria’s foremost business magnate and prospective investor in Arsenal FC, Alhaji Aliko Dangote with a yet to be officially disclosed motive.

    It is however suspected that the top officials of the NFF are building relationship with the motive to woo investment from the businessman into Nigeria Football and more.

    NFF has invited Alhaji Dangote to a couple of Super Eagles matches previously, including the friendly match with England in London before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, but he was unable to attend.

    But on Monday the notable Nigerian and Arsenal fan was spotted with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Best Awards in London.Femi Otedola-a business tycoon was in company.

    As gathered, Dangote and Otedola were at the historic ceremony on the invitation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, who explained why he invited both business moguls to join the Nigeria delegates for the award forum.

    He 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.

    “Football has tremendous capacity to be self –sustaining and even contribute significantly to the national GDP. That is the station we are targeting at the moment.

    “I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate our other sponsors and partners, Coca Cola, Zenith Bank, Nigeria Breweries PLC, NIKE, Cadbury PLC, WAPIC Insurance, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, TGI, 1XBET, Peak Milk, Payporte for making us to attain the present 65 per cent private sector –funding status.”

    Dangote, holds Nigeria’s second highest national honour (GCON), and he is the President of Dangote Group. He is ranked the richest person of African descent in the world.

    Dangote is reportedly worth over $15 billion.

  • NFF Elective Congress: Pinnick pledges to reconcile with losers

    The President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, has pledged to reconcile with those who lost at the 2018 NFF Elective Congress held in Katsina on Thursday.

    Pinnick was speaking after the announcement of election results by the Chairman, NFF Electoral Committee, Mr Mohammed Sani-Katu.

    He said that there was no winner, no vanquish during the election, hence the need for all to come and join hands to fulfill their promises and make a progress.

    The NFF president thanked all those who contributed to the success of the exercise in one way or the other.

    Pinnick scored 34 votes to beat other contestants.

    Aminu Maigari polled eight votes to emerge second, Taiwo Ogunjobi got two votes, while Chinedu Okoye had no vote during the election.

    Seyi Akinwumi was elected First Vice President and Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Chairman FA Chairmen.

    Others elected included Yusuf Ahmed and Suleiman Kwande as board members from North Central; Babagana Kali and Musa Duhu for North East.
    Sharif Rabiu was elected unopposed as board member for North West; Emmanuel Eda, South-South; Felix Agu, South East, and Ganiyu Majekodumi, South West.

    44 delegates cast votes during the peaceful congress. (NAN)