Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman have assumed new roles within Nigerian football administration as the National Sports Commission (NSC) moves to maintain continuity following the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation’s top officials.
Ikpeme, who previously served as the NFF’s Deputy General Secretary, has been endorsed by the NSC to oversee the federation’s secretariat as interim General Secretary. Dr Ademola Olajire, the former Director of Media and Communications, has also been appointed interim Deputy General Secretary.
The changes followed the resignation on Thursday of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, the NFF appointed Abdulrahaman as Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Premier Football League on Friday, coinciding with the opening of the new NPFL season.
The season began with a clash between CAF Confederation Cup representatives Shooting Stars and newly promoted Inter Lagos FC at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan.
Abdulrahaman holds a doctorate in sports administration and brings experience from various levels of Nigerian football to his new position.
Ikpeme explained that Abdulrahaman’s appointment was in line with a directive issued following Thursday’s leadership changes, which required board members, chief executives and non-NFF staff serving as Chief Operating Officers across the leagues to leave their positions.
He confirmed that Abdulrahaman’s appointment took immediate effect.
The chairmen, appointed directors and chief executives overseeing the NPFL, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One have also been directed to hand over the running of their respective competitions to NFF-employed Chief Operating Officers.
Where a league does not have an NFF staff member serving as its COO, the federation will deploy one to oversee its administration.
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The NFF has also suspended all preparations for its Elective Congress, which had been scheduled for September 27.
A new electoral process will only begin after a comprehensive reform of football administration has been completed in consultation with FIFA and CAF.
The restructuring follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian football administration amid the country’s repeated failure to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.
Tinubu said the reform should address longstanding weaknesses in the management and development of the sport.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” the President said.
He noted that although other sports had made progress following the revival of the National Sports Commission, football continued to face significant structural challenges.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” Tinubu said.
The President consequently directed the NSC chairman to work with the NFF Secretariat and other stakeholders to maintain the administration of football while pursuing a broad-based reform process in consultation with FIFA and CAF.