Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has challenged the newly appointed General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Samson Adamu, to use his position to advance African football while protecting and promoting Nigeria’s interests within the continental football governing body.
Shettima gave the charge on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving Adamu, who recently made history as the first Nigerian to occupy the position in CAF’s 70-year history.
Congratulating Adamu on his appointment, the Vice President urged him to distinguish himself through exemplary leadership, integrity and service, stressing that his emergence presented an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s influence in international sports administration.
Conveying President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill, Shettima said the President was proud of Adamu and expected him to justify the confidence reposed in him.
“The President is proud of you, Samson Adamu. Go and do a yeoman’s job. Go and promote, protect and project and preserve the interest of the Nigerian nation. So Samson, I wish you all the best,” he said.
The Vice President described football as a powerful instrument of national unity, noting that the sport often transcends Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and cultural differences.
“Football especially is a uniting force in this country. Anytime Nigeria plays, it tends to subsume all other identities. Football and sports generally is a source of unity for our country. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us,” he stated.
Shettima said Adamu’s appointment reinforced Nigeria’s capacity to produce individuals capable of occupying strategic positions in global sports governance.
He attributed the country’s sporting achievements to the quality of its people, the commitment of sports administrators and the institutions responsible for discovering and nurturing talents.
“Our nation has earned its place in the world of sports. We have flown our flag in arenas where few expected us to perform magic and we have made the impossible appear almost familiar, fundamentally because of the quality of our people,” he said.
The Vice President also acknowledged the often-overlooked contributions of coaches, talent scouts, administrators and institutions in building successful sporting careers.
He recalled the achievements of Nigerian football legends, including Rashidi Yekini, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Finidi George, noting that their success was supported by individuals and institutions that identified and developed their talents.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, commended President Tinubu and the Federal Government for their support for sports development, saying the administration’s commitment had enhanced Nigeria’s international sporting profile and opened opportunities for investment.
Dikko described Adamu’s appointment as a major milestone for Nigerian sports administration.
He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for approving Nigeria’s hosting of the CAF General Assembly in November and the CAF Awards in December 2026, describing the events as opportunities to showcase the country’s capacity to host major international sporting engagements.
In his remarks, Adamu thanked the Federal Government for its support, describing his appointment as a historic moment for Nigeria.
The new CAF General Secretary, who previously served as the continental body’s Director of Competitions, pledged to deploy his experience to strengthen CAF’s administration and advance African football.
He also expressed his commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to harness its abundant football talent and realise its potential at continental and global levels.
Adamu was appointed CAF General Secretary on Sunday, 1 November 2026, following a recruitment exercise. He is expected to oversee the day-to-day administration of the continental football governing body.
