Glitz, glamour, enduring memories and delight as Ikpeme launches book on sports development

Photo : Eminent personalities hold copies of the book alongside the author at the launch on Thursday.

There were representatives of the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, representatives of three serving governors, two former governors, two serving ministers, a former sports minister, representatives of serving ministers, the incumbent and one former director-general of the National Sports Commission, top-flight public officers, representative of the NFF President, former parliamentarians, the incumbent and a former NFF General Secretary, renowned academics, religious leaders, NFF management and former Nigeria international players in attendance as incumbent NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme publicly unveiled his book, Perspectives on Sports Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Ways Forward in Abuja on Thursday.

Chairman of the occasion, Senator John Owan Enoh, a former sports minister and the incumbent Minister of State for Industry in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, eulogised the author, saying he has done a yeoman’s job by putting his experiences in the academics and sports administration down in black and white for the present generation and generations unborn to learn from and be wiser.

He added that “sports should be treated as social infrastructure and a platform for youth development,” and that “reforms must be institutionalised and protected from policy reversals.”

On his part, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko said: “I congratulate the author on this benchmark work. However, I propose that a chapter be added to document current efforts, ongoing work and progress being made by the present administration to resolve identified challenges.

“President Tinubu is committed to professionalising the sector and removing sports from the entanglements of regular bureaucracy. This book validates the reforms and becomes a tool to document what is wrong and what is being done. Long-term, we will continue to resolve identified challenges and expect to deliver outcomes soonest.

“We are maintaining existing facilities and building new mini sports stadiums and facilities in the universities. Approvals secured within the past fortnight, with Presidential backing, are aimed at providing support for sports across the length and breadth of the country.”

The ensemble inside the VIP lounge of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja included Enoh; representative of Senate President, Chief Godswill Akapbio; representative of the Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abbas; representatives of the governors of Cross River, Lagos and Enugu States; former Governors Liyel Imoke and Christopher Osondu (Cross River State); Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; NSC DG, Hon. Bukola Olopade; representatives of the Ministers of Defence and Youth Development; former sports minister Solomon Dalung; former NSC DG and FIFA Executive Committee member, Dr Amos Adamu; representative of NFF President, His Excellency Silas Agara; representative of the DG, NIS; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; former NFF General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu; former NPFL scribe Salihu Abubakar; Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Eric Chelle; a former special assistant to then President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Tunde Olishile; former NFF Board Member, High Chief Emeka Inyama; President of NAPHER.SD, Professor Florence Adeyanju; Professor Olufemi Adegbesan, the book reviewer; NFF top management and; former internationals Emmanuel Amuneke, Olufemi Ajilore and Anthony Ujah.

Chief launcher, Hon. Kunle Soname, who was represented, bought copies of the book for the sum of N10 million, same as friends of Senator Enoh and God’s Chosen International Church. Mallam Dikko bought copies for N3 million while DG Olopade bought copies for N2 million. Dr Sanusi pledged the sum of N1 million, same as the NFF Management. Most donors did not disclose the sums with which they will be supporting the publication.