Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigerians possess the talent and capacity to occupy leadership positions in global sports.
Shettima said this on Tuesday when he received the newly appointed General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football, Samson Adamu, and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He described the appointment of Adamu as the first Nigerian General Secretary of CAF as additional proof of the country’s potential for international leadership.
Shettima said Nigeria’s sporting achievements had been driven by the quality of its people.
He commended the dedication of sports administrators and the institutions that discover, nurture and project Nigerian talent onto the global stage.
The Vice President congratulated Adamu on his appointment and urged 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.
“We have made the impossible appear almost familiar, fundamentally because of the quality of our people,” he said.
Shettima, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to Adamu, described him as a role model for young Nigerians.
The Vice President urged him to approach his new responsibilities with diligence, integrity and a strong sense of national pride.
He also urged him to promote, protect, project and preserve Nigeria’s interests, while wishing him success.
“Football especially is a uniting force in this country. Anytime Nigeria plays, it tends to subsume all other identities.
“Football and sports generally are a source of unity for our country. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us,” he stated.
Shettima maintained that Nigeria’s diversity remained a source of strength, stressing that the country’s social and historical bonds were deeper than the divisions sometimes emphasised in public discourse.
He commended the often-unrecognised contributions of officials, coaches, talent scouts and administrators whose work provides the foundation for Nigeria’s sporting achievements.
“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.
Shettima noted that their successes were made possible by individuals and institutions that identified and developed their talents.
Earlier, Dikko thanked the Federal Government for its support for sports development.
He said the administration’s commitment had helped enhance Nigeria’s international sporting profile and attract investment opportunities.
Dikko described Adamu’s appointment as a significant milestone for Nigerian sports administration.
He expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s approval of Nigeria’s hosting of the CAF General Assembly and CAF Awards in November and December 2026.
According to him, the government’s support for sports had also strengthened the country’s ability to attract international investment through sporting activities and partnerships.
Responding, Adamu described his emergence as the first Nigerian to occupy the position in CAF’s 70-year history as a source of national pride.
Adamu pledged to draw on his experience as CAF’s former Director of Competitions to strengthen the continental football body’s administration and advance the development of African football.
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, following a recruitment exercise by the continental football body.
He is expected to oversee CAF’s day-to-day administration.
