By Goodluck Ikiebe in Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged FIFA Leadership to consider, Nigeria top on its plan for support and investment.
He also described Football as one unique sports that unites Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, culture or religion.
The President stated this at the State House Abuja, when the President of the World Football Governing Body (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, visited him, led by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare.
According to him, football is also one of the greatest sources of unity in the country as well as in many parts of the world, stating further that “our hearts beat as one, anytime our teams are playing a football match”.
“Without any doubt, football is a major tool for national unity. Our youths are positively engaged when our national football teams are on assignment”, he emphasized.
President Buhari assured that his administration would continue to support FIFA’s initiatives – the FIFA connect programme, which aims at driving football development at the grassroots, using technology.
He added that his administration would utilize football for the development of the girl-child to inspire young people toward having rewarding careers in the game and thus ensure improved socio-economic development.
The President also informed the FIFA President on the 6-Nation Aisha Buhari Invitational Football Tournament, recalling that since 2017, his administration had adopted football as a national asset.
He added that sports was being accorded the highest level of attention possible, by his administration, to enable the rapid development of the abundant talented youths in the country.
Speaking earlier, Infantino, commended the Buhari administration for its commitment to the development of football and sporting infrastructure in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria has shown serious commitment to football by providing funding and creating a conducive environment for the development and growth of the game.
“We, as FIFA, are excited to be in a country where the Government, the Minister and the Football Federation are working with private investors like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is investing in football. This is not just about Nigeria or African football, but global football”, he said.
The FIFA president, who described the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja as a wonderful edifice, added that, “it is not just an investment in football but in the youth of this wonderful country.”
“FIFA appreciates this kind of investment and looks forward to giving its backing to have the stadium host some big games and competitions, to bring life to the heartbeat of the stadium,” Infantino assured.
In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, said that Nigeria remained the leading black nation in the world with talented youths, who are not only united through sports, particularly football, but also contributed meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the nation.
Our Correspondent reports that the high point of the occasion was the presentation of Jersey number 10 to President Buhari.
