GongNews … truth in defense of a just society
Related Articles
By Chinedum Ezeaku
It is no longer news that the current general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, will be vacating his position after the expiration of his tenure next year January.
Stakeholders in the football business are of the opinion that
in line with civil service rule and with less than three months to the expiration of his tenure, Dr Sanusi, who has brought a lot of innovations to Nigerian football, should proceed on terminal leave.
Dr Sanusi, who has served Nigerian football for 17 years,nine of these years as general secretary has been a contract staff of NFF since 2007 as against the public service establishment act, which states no contract staff should stay more than 4 years
as general secretary, has been in charge of the Federation’s day-to-day operations, including organizing competitions, coordinating with national teams and fostering youth development programs.
His leadership as the General Secretary (NFF) is also vital in managing Nigeria’s participation in international tournaments and addressing issues within Nigerian football.
As many are agitating for him to proceed on terminal leave, many are also calling on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation to appoint a competent staff of the NFF for the general secretary position.
It is in this direction that two names popped up, Shola Ogunowo – the effervescent Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nationwide League One (NLO), Nigeria’s third tier football league and Dr Demola Olajire, Director of Communication, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
But between the two, it won’t be out place to say that Ogunnowo perfectly fits in based on his gentle mien and disposition and also talking about the experiences he has garnered over the years as a certified sports administrator. It is interesting to state here that Ogunnowo is a graduate of Sports Science from the prestigious Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) formerly known as Ogun State University, a background that put him in a good stead to succeed Dr Sanusi.
Let us go through the profiles of the two.
*SHOLA OGUNNOWO*
He is a Deputy Director with the Nigeria football Federation, and is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria’s third tier league, Nationwide League One NLO. He is a certified sports administrator meaning he is the mostly qualified to succeed Dr Mohamed Sanusi as the general secretary. Because no other professional has occupied that position in the past.
The Ogun State-born Sports Administrator joined NFF as a sports officer in the year 2000 and rose through the ranks to become a deputy director sports and chief operating officer COO of NLO as earlier stated. Ogunnowo has worked through all the three tiers of the Nigerian leagues as well as the women’s league.
Ogunowo has worked in almost all the departments of the NFF and was team administrator of the Nigeria U-23 team to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He also as a protocol officer and personal assistant to the late general secretary of the NFF, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, also worked with Dr Tijani Yusuf the then NFA Secretary General that professionalize the operations of NFA in early 2000.
Under Ogunnowo’s leadership, the NLO has expanded its focus in both quality and accessibility.
The league has introduced measures to improve match day standards, combat hooliganism and enhance engagement. Ogunowo aims to bring grassroots football system in Nigeria to international standards by incorporating best practices as observed globally, he as well brought in international partners to the league and was able to secure sponsors to the tune of #960 million Naira annually to the NLO
Ogunnowo is a graduate of Sports Science (BSC), Olabisi Onabanjo University and a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from University of Abuja with a doctorate degree in sports management from the Lagos State University (LASU) in view. In the area of sponsorship and partnership, Ogunowo has been amazing in attracting clients of various pedigrees to boost grassroots football and his work with foreign corporate sponsors has led to significant partnership that provide technical, financial, and visibility support for the League.
With Ogunnowo’s qualities and Dr Sanusi’s impending exit, it will be the outgoing scribe’s joy that he is leaving the office to one of the best hands he nurtured to continue from where he stopped and that in the long run will take Nigerian football to greater heights and the much expected Eldorado.
*ADEMOLA OLAJIRE*
The director of communications with the NFF is also a good candidate for the position of NFF general secretary having moved through the ranks too to become a director with the NFF.
The veteran journalist, who holds PhD in Mass Communication, plays vital role in managing and laundering the public image of Nigerian football and is also responsible for coordinating NFF’s media and communications.
The prolific writer is blessed with strategic communication skills and experience within sports administration which has helped to bridge the Federation’s relationship with the media, sponsors and stakeholders.
If the criteria used in determining who becomes the next general secretary is the certificate obtained alone, then Dr Olajire will be a good option as he is not only a director but also a doctorate degree holder.
There is heavy cloud on Olajire who many believed he joined NFF through the back door in 2007 as a senior staff without the approval and knowledge of the civil service commission
Olajire is not a certified sports administrator and this could be an impediment on his path. Olajire holds first degree in Mass Communication up to doctorate level.
However, with either Shola Ogunowo or Dr Ademola Olajire as the general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, it is expected that Nigeria football will move to a greater height.
