Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigerians possess the talent and capacity to occupy leadership positions in global sports, describing the appointment of Samson Adamu as the first Nigerian General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as evidence of the country’s potential for international leadership.
Shettima made this known on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving Adamu and a delegation led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Malam Shehu Dikko.
The Vice President congratulated Adamu on his appointment and charged him to distinguish himself through exemplary leadership and service to African football.
“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.
Conveying President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill, Shettima described Adamu as a role model for young Nigerians and urged him to approach his new responsibilities with diligence, integrity and national pride.
“The President is proud of you, Samson Adamu. Go and do a yo-man’s job. Go and promote, protect, project and preserve the interest of the Nigerian nation,” he said.
Shettima also described football as a powerful instrument of national unity, noting that the sport brings Nigerians together regardless of their ethnic, religious and social 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.
The Vice President further acknowledged the contributions of sports administrators, coaches, talent scouts and institutions whose efforts often go unrecognised despite their roles in developing Nigerian athletes.
“The minds that organise, the hands that prepare and the institutions that give talents a fighting chance are always not recognised. This is why, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we appreciate you,” he said.
He recalled the contributions of Nigerian football legends, including Rashidi Yekini, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Finidi George, noting that their achievements were made possible by individuals and institutions that identified and developed their talents.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Malam Shehu Dikko, thanked President Tinubu and the Federal Government for supporting sports development.
Dikko said, “The administration’s commitment has helped enhance Nigeria’s international sporting profile and attract investment opportunities through sports.”
He described Adamu’s appointment as a significant milestone for Nigerian sports administration and appreciated the Federal Government’s approval of Nigeria’s hosting of the CAF General Assembly and CAF Awards in November and December 2026, respectively.
In his remarks, Adamu thanked the Federal Government for its support, describing his emergence as the first Nigerian to occupy the position in CAF’s 70-year history as a source of national pride.
He said, “This is a source of national pride, and I am grateful to the Federal Government for the support and encouragement.”
Adamu pledged to draw on his experience as CAF’s former Director of Competitions to strengthen the continental football body’s administration and advance African football development.
He also expressed his commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to harness its abundant football talent and realise its potential within the continental and global sporting landscape.
Adamu was appointed CAF General Secretary on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following a recruitment exercise by the continental football body. He is expected to oversee CAF’s day-to-day administration.