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President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will use football for the development of the girl-child, inspiring young people to have rewarding careers in the game.
He stated this while Receiving the FIFA delegation led by its president Gianni Infantino and the president of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe, at the State House, Abuja
The President called on the top echelon of football’s world governing body to see Nigeria as one of its greatest assets when it comes to the development of football.
On women’s football, the President expressed delight that Nigeria had produced excellent role models to inspire the next generation of stars to take up the sport.
President Buhari, urged the leadership of the world football governing body to consider Nigeria top on its plan for support and investment.
He also told the visiting FIFA president, who is in the country for the six-nation Aisha Buhari Invitational Football Tournament, that his administration had adopted football as a national asset since 2017
He explained that the sport was being accorded the highest level of attention possible by the government to enable rapid development of abundant talents in the country.
The President thanked FIFA for making ABC, a ranking tournament, adding that he looks forward to more countries joining to participate in the future.
President Buhari, described football as one of the greatest sources of unity in the country as well as in many parts of the world.
The Nigerian leader commended the enormous work done by the organisation in the development of football, using it as a tool for positive social change and to drive global unity.
He pledged support for the latest FIFA initiative, the FIFA Connect programme which aims to drive football development at the grassroots using technology, assuring football body’s top echelon of Nigeria’s active participation in the programme.
Bello Wakili
