The former President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and a FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has stated that sport is a powerful tool for “cohesion, security, infrastructure rehabilitation, and upgrade as well as economic growth”.

According to Mr Pinnick, the youth population available to be lured into banditry and general bad behaviour could be drastically reduced if sport infrastructure is top notch.

Mr Amaju Pinnick made these statements at a Personality Guest Lecture he delivered for the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan.

The lecture was entitled “The Challenges of Sports Infrastructure and Maintenance in Nigeria: Prospect for the Podium Performance.”

He explained that sport can be used as a weapon to promote international relations, unity, and friendship amongst all Africans and serve as a powerful weapon against the recruitment of youths into insurgency and terrorism.

The former NFF President affirmed that modern management in sports, sports facilities, and projects demands acquisition of knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies, which are gained through professional and academic education.

He, therefore, recommended that people need to be trained in the area of not only sports administration but also in the area of facility management.

Mr Amaju Pinnick encouraged the present NFF administration not to relent in its advocacy for football infrastructure renewal, upgrade, rehabilitation, and revamp across the country.

He suggested that Nigeria should resume the hosting of major competitions, which bring unquantifiable dividends, with social, cultural, and economic gains for so many sectors.

The FIFA Council Member also called for the growing of a tribe of knowledgeable, skilful, passionate, and enterprising modern sports facility managers who will ensure that sports infrastructure remains in shape.

Mr Amaju Pinnick advocated the availability of sports infrastructure in the local communities to encourage the practice of sports for either recreation or professional purposes.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, FAS, acknowledged that the Personality Guest lecture was another landmark in the annals of the Faculty of Education serving as an intellectual platform where thought leaders share their expertise.

He lamented that it was disheartening to see sports infrastructure, which is critical to the development of any sport not keeping pace with the immense potential and talent that Nigeria possesses.

Professor Adebowale commended Mr Amaju Pinnick for his experience in leading the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and holding leadership positions in the Confederation of African Football (CAF), for his contributions to African Football governance and his global football connections.

He said the personality lecturer’s tenure as Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President saw improvements in various areas of Nigerian football, and his influence reached across the continent and beyond.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the presence of Mr Amaju Pinnick at the University of Ibadan would mark the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship between the University of Ibadan, the NFF, CAF, and FIFA.

He explained that the possibilities of collaboration in sports infrastructure development, research, and the enhancement of sports programmes are immense.

The Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. O. A. Adegbesan said Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, OFR, ROI, is a renowned figure in global football administration whose contributions to the sports industry have been nothing short of extraordinary.

He said the personality guest lecture was a part of the town-gown synergy of the University of Ibadan adding that the Faculty of Education was desirous of contributing its quota to the development of the Nigerian society through organising personality lectures to discuss issues affecting the Nigerian economy.

Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick had preceded the personality guest lecture with a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor in his office.

Credit: Directorate of Public Communication, UI