President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, on Monday evening, took the opportunity to once again commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his consistent commitment to celebrating and supporting Nigeria’s living sports heroes, while also honoring those who have passed on.
“President Tinubu has boldly ended the era when our sports heroes were left unrewarded. Their efforts are now duly recognized and appreciated. We saw this with the honours and rewards given to the Super Eagles after their second-place finish at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, and now again with the Super Falcons following their recent Women’s AFCON victory in Morocco,” he said.
“Our heroes deserve all the recognition, appreciation and celebration that we can give them whether they are alive or dead. That is the culture that we should birth and nurture,” Gusau said at the Night of Tributes organized for Nigeria’s sports icons at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos on Monday night.
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The event, which was put together by Air Peace airline (whose chairman, Allen Onyema has continued to show interest in the well-being of former Nigeria sports heroes) and former Nigeria captain Olusegun Odegbami (a relentless advocate of the recognition and proper appreciation of the nation’s sporting icons), paid tributes to former Nigeria captains ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu and Peter Rufai, former internationals Charles Bassey and Moses Effiong, and boxing champion Obisia Nwakpa – who all passed on within the past few months.
“People talk about the neglect of our sporting heroes, but we can see that President Tinubu is changing the narrative,” Gusau said, in a speech read on his behalf by a Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief George Aluo.
“ When the Eagles won silver medals at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire early last year, Mr. President rewarded the team handsomely. We can all see what he has done for the Super Falcons for winning the WAFCON in Morocco,”
The NFF boss was also full of praise for the trio of Air Peace boss, Allen Onyema, Chief Olusegun Odegbami and the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Eghosa Osaghae for putting together the Night of Tributes for the departed legends.
“I salute all those who have deemed it fit to honour ‘Chairman’ Chukwu and the other legends. These legends did Nigeria proud in their different lifetimes. They were warriors. They defended our colours, inspired our youth and lifted our spirits. We will never forget their amazing contributions to Nigeria football.”
