President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, as a member of the Federal Government delegation to the 2018 FIFA World Cup starting in Russia from June 14.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, who said this when he led a delegation from the International Paralympics Committee on a courtesy visit to Governor Ambode at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja on Thursday, said the appointment was in recognition of the massive investment and commitment to sports development which Governor Ambode had exhibited in the last three years.
I am honoured to have been nominated by President Buhari to join the Federal Government delegation to support the Nigerian Super Eagles at the World Cup in Russia. pic.twitter.com/PEsuRScWAD
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) June 7, 2018
While handing over the letter of appointment to the governor, Mr Dalung said Lagos had been home to sports, and that it was gratifying that Mr Ambode had repositioned sports as a catalyst for development and growth in the state.
“Your Excellency, I want to inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved you as one of the members of the Federal Government delegation that would be leading and representing him and other Nigerians in Russia at the World Cup.
“The President’s approval of you as a member of that delegation is borne out of the conviction that you have been one of the governors that have invested heavily in sports and also supported sports.
“Lagos is home to sports and so we are always here. We are always here because of the very friendly environment and a good relationship the Ministry enjoys with the Lagos State Government and the fraternity of the government and people of Lagos is one of the major reasons why we will often visit the Governor when the occasion demands,” Dalung said.
Responding, Ambode thanked President Buhari for appointing him into FG’s delegation to the World Cup, saying that with the moral and physical support for the Super Eagles, Nigerians would be made proud at the end of the day.
He specifically allayed fears in some quarters over the losing streak suffered by the team in some of the friendly matches played in preparation for the tournament, insisting that the succession of defeats to Atletico Madrid, England and the Czech Republic were part of the strategy to understand the areas to concentrate on in having a well-rounded team.
“With our moral and physical support, Nigerians would be made proud and I am sure people should not bother about what they are seeing with the friendly matches; they are supposed to be friendlies and I am sure the team will put all their energy and make Nigeria proud,” Governor Ambode said.
