Always put Nigeria’s interest first, Dare tells new NFF leadership

Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, has urged the new executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to improve all levels of football in the country.

The minister addressed the NFF leadership when they paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Football is a national and unifying force in Nigeria and the federal government, through his ministry, is interested in its growth and development,” Dare said.

“You have to move the game in the right direction, where all the genuine stakeholders want it to go. You have to hold crucial and critical conversations before you take crucial decisions. Let the interest of the nation be the first and most important consideration in all you do.”

Dare also tasked the NFF to be wary and sensitive to issues that would affect the growth and development of football.

He promised that the ministry would do its best to provide adequate funding required.

In his remark, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF president, thanked the minister for his support and pledged that the board will work in the interest of Nigeria.

Other members of the NFF board who visited the sports ministry were Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Rabiu Inuwa, Aisha Falode, Margaret Icheen, Essien Udofot, and Mohammed Sanusi, the general secretary.