Nigeria Football Supporters Club appoints Gani Adams National Patron

The Nigeria Football Supporters Club has appointed Iba Gani Adams, the 15^th Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, its Patron.

Adams was honoured with the prestigious appointment when members of the club paid a courtesy visit to his Omole, Lagos home.

Speaking after the conferment, Adams expressed his appreciation to the club’s management for counting him worthy of the honour. Coming barely one month to the first anniversary of his installation as the 15^th Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Adams said the honour was timely.

He said his passion for sports and sports and development began at a young age, and has spanned over three decades. His nomination for the honour, he observed, would further strengthen national unity and boost sport tourism across the country and beyond.

Adams, however, urged the federal government to show more than a passing interest in grassroots sports in order to reduce crime rates in the country.

“I have been monitoring the activities of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club since 1982,” the Aare continued. “In those days, I had wished to be part of the club because of my interest in sports development. It is football that showcases Nigeria to the world and it creates a strong appeal among the youth and other segments of society in general.

“It boosts sport tourism in countries like Brazil and Argentina. The content of encouragement is the zeal of the supporters club. I respect your efforts as a big association. I have been contributing my little quota to sports development, especially through the establishment of the Gani Adams Foundation (GAF) in 2003. I founded the foundation to promote sports, especially football, at the lower cadre. I also sponsor Under-13 football tournaments annually in Lagos.”

Adams showed his appreciation of the patriotism of members of the club, adding that they have done well to project brand Nigeria to the world. “I am a regular traveller and I know for a fact that travelling is educative. Members are exposed when they travel across the globe and traveling is part of education.”

Adams paid glowing tribute to his predecessor and Pillar of Sports in Africa, the late Basorun M.K.O. Abiola, praising him for his philanthropy and his passion and love for sports which knew no bounds. He promised to support the association with all within his powers any time the need arises.

Meanwhile, President General of the Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo, said the club arrived at the choice of Aare Gani Adams for the title after wide consultations with all the stakeholders of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, saying the position of the Grand Patron of the association is reserved for Nigeria’s serving president.

“You are, no doubt, a sports-loving personality, and an embodiment of what Nigeria culture is all about. We appoint you as the National Patron of Nigeria Football Supporters Club not because of your age but because God has placed you in a position that is worthy of all honours. To complement our efforts, we will be inviting you to our secretariat at your convenient time to meet with our people, discuss with them and help chart a new course.”

However, Dr. Ladipo regretted that government has reneged in its promise to support the club, saying the association gets its funding from corporate organizations, individuals, and a few states. “We foot all our bills privately,” he lamented. “All over the world, national associations like the Nigeria Football Supporters Club get funded by the government and they perform creditably well.”

National Chairman of the club, Reverend Samuel Ikpea, said he is confident that the group will achieve its objectives with the emergence of Aare Adams as the National Patron of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, saying the position of a National Patron is not political or tribal, but for the lovers of sports.