The football community in Nigeria has been celebration the conferment of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Chief Sunday Akin Dare, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Messages came from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.
Also being congratulated by the NFF is immediate past NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was awared the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) award; and Nigeria’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, who bagged a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) honour.
In a statement, NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau said: “The National Award of CON conferred on Chief Sunday Dare by Mr. President goes a long way to underscore the character, diligence, competence and drive that the man brought to the job. Chief Dare worked assiduously to reposition Nigeria sports generally and posterity will be kind to him”.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi also celebrated Dare’s award, saying that the strong mentality and passion he brought to the office remains ineffable.
“He has been a class act. We celebrate him for the award and we pray that he will continue to soar even higher in his future endeavours”, Sanusi noted.
In his congratulatory message, Elegbeleye commended Dare for his foresight in deepening the development of the sports industry during his tenure of office.
He said Date’s tenure brought wholesome innovation to the nation’s sports industry.
“The National Award of CON conferred on Chief Sunday Dare by Mr. President goes a long way to highlight the character, diligence, competence and drive that the man brought to the job.”, the IMC boss said.
The IMC boss noted that the acclaimed NPFL 2022/33 season, which set new land marks, had the support of the Sports Ministry headed by Dare.
The IMC Chairman also praised the outgoing Minister for supporting the NFF in ensuring the renewal of the national football league on a grounded safe regulation that allowed teams to participate on free rules that permitted the best team that would emerge winners.
“With the support of the NFF and supervision of the Sports Ministry, we organised a league season with no interruptions and external influences leading to the Super 6 Play-off and this is a landmark in the annals of setting a competitive season”, Elegbeleye remarked.
Both the NFF President and its General Secretary also congratulated Pinnick for his national honour. Gusau said: “I am very happy to celebrate a goal-getter, an achiever, an accomplished administrator and an eminent world citizen, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on this award. He is quite deserving but I must thank President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for recognizing the hard work and diligence of Mr. Pinnick in Nigeria, African and world football.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of the NFF, I congratulate Mr. Pinnick and I believe this prestigious National Award will serve as an impetus for him to do even more for Nigeria, African and world football”.
Sanusi said that the award is not only for Pinnick and his immediate family, but also for all those who worked with him at the NFF, and the entire Nigeria football fraternity.
“We are very grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for this award, because in essence it recognizes the work that football administrators are doing. Mr. Pinnick is a shining light for Nigeria and African football in the global space”, the NFF scribe said.
Pinnick served two terms as NFF President between 2014 and 2022 (the first to break the one-term duck since Sunday Dankaro in the 1970s), arrow-headed a leadership change at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), served as CAF’s first Vice President, and is presently member of the FIFA Council – an exclusive club of 37 people who are the supreme governors of world football.
In congratulating Osimhen, Gusau said: “The football industry has been given ample recognition this time and we commend our father, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for this. The award to Osimhen means that even as a football player, you can be honoured by your country for exceptional service and also for the way you represent the country abroad.
“We are proud of Osimhen and what he has done and continues to do with Napoli SC in Italy and for the Super Eagles”.
Sanusi added: “Ever since he won the FIFA U17 World Cup as record goalscorer, Osimhen has continued to rise in leaps and bounds through hard work, dedication and discipline. We believe this award will spur him to do even more for the Super Eagles and to continue to be a good ambassador of Nigeria Football internationally”.
Osimhen has been the star-man for Napoli as the team won its first Italia Serie A title in 33 years a few weeks ago, and only on Sunday scored his 25th league goal of the season for the club.
