Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said Nigerians have the talent and capacity to occupy leadership positions in global sports, describing Samson Adamu’s appointment as the first Nigerian General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a testament to the country’s potential on the international stage.
Shettima made the remarks on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving Adamu and a delegation led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko.
Congratulating Adamu on his appointment, the Vice-President urged him to demonstrate exemplary leadership, integrity and commitment to the development of African football.
He said Nigeria’s achievements in sports were a product of the quality of its people, the dedication of sports administrators and the institutions responsible for identifying, nurturing and promoting local talent.
“Our nation has earned its place in the world of sports. We have flown our flag in arenas where few expected us to perform magic, and we have made the impossible appear almost familiar, fundamentally because of the quality of our people,” he said.
Conveying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill, Shettima described Adamu as a role model for young Nigerians and urged him to use his new position to advance the interests of the country and African football.
“The President is proud of you, Samson Adamu. Go and do a yeoman’s job. Go and promote, protect, project and preserve the interests of the Nigerian nation. So, Samson, I wish you all the best,” he said.
The Vice-President also highlighted football’s role in promoting national unity, noting that the sport often brings Nigerians together across ethnic, religious and other social divides.
“Football, especially, is a uniting force in this country. Anytime Nigeria plays, it tends to subsume all other identities. Football and sports generally are a source of unity for our country. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us,” he stated.
Shettima maintained that Nigeria’s diversity should be regarded as a source of strength, adding that the country’s shared social and historical bonds were stronger than the divisions often emphasised in public discourse.
He also acknowledged the contributions of sports administrators, coaches, talent scouts and other professionals whose efforts, he said, often went unrecognised despite their critical role in producing successful athletes.
“The minds that organise, the hands that prepare and the institutions that give talents a fighting chance are often not recognised. This is why, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we appreciate you,” he said.
The Vice-President further recalled the achievements of Nigerian football greats, including Rashidi Yekini, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and Finidi George, stressing that their successes were supported by individuals and institutions that discovered, developed and provided opportunities for their talents.
He said Adamu’s appointment should serve as an inspiration to young Nigerians, demonstrating that the country’s sporting talents could translate into influential leadership roles at the continental and international levels.
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