Ikpeme Assumes Office as NFF Interim General Secretary, Olajire Appointed Interim Deputy
Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme has assumed responsibility for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat as interim General Secretary following the resignation of Ibrahim Musa Gusau as NFF President and Mohammed Sanusi as General Secretary.
Ikpeme, who previously served as the federation’s Deputy General Secretary, was endorsed by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to oversee the NFF Secretariat during the transition.
Dr Ademola Olajire, formerly the NFF Director of Media and Communications, has also been appointed interim Deputy General Secretary.
The changes follow Thursday’s mass resignations involving Gusau, Sanusi and members of the NFF Executive Committee, effectively bringing the current administration to an end.
As part of the transition process, all activities relating to the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 27 have been suspended.
According to the NFF, a new electoral process will commence after the completion of a comprehensive reform programme to be undertaken in consultation with world football’s governing body, FIFA; the Confederation of African Football (CAF); the government; and other key stakeholders.
The NSC has also directed the chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) to hand over the administration of their respective leagues to their Chief Operating Officers.
Where a league’s COO is not a member of the NFF staff, the acting General Secretary has been mandated to appoint a replacement from within the federation.
The interim measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian football while consultations begin on a roadmap for comprehensive reforms and the next phase of the federation’s development.
The NFF said further changes and directives would be communicated in due course as the transition progresses.
