Football
The third edition of the
Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Mini-Tournament will hold at the Campos Square, Lagos on
Thursday, 29th December, 2016.
Barr. Akinwunmi is the 1st
Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation.
Conceived as a special
project to give back to the society, by an individual who is much in love with
the young ones, the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Mini- Tournament is the eponymous
charity event organized by the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation.
Its objectives include
rehabilitation of ailing ex-international footballers. Embedded therein also is
a Courage Education Foundation (CEF) – a not-for-profit organization dedicated
to the empowerment of the Nigerian child through the provision of quality
education available to all Nigerian children irrespective of sex, faith or
ethnicity, as well as Consolidation of The Future Stars Project – a grassroots
football development program targeted at kids (mainly under 13 years of age)
and hinged on the binary factors of sporting and academic excellence.
At the second edition last
year, Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila
was among the dignitaries, with NFF President Amaju Pinnick, NFF 2nd Vice
President Shehu Dikko, NFF Board Member Sunday Dele-Ajayi, Chairman of the
Lagos State Sports Commission Deji Tinubu, and LMC CEO Hon. Nduka Irabor also
present.
There were also the Seriki
of Egbaland, Oba Tosin Fadare, President of the Nigeria Referees Association
Tade Azeez, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club and
Chairmen of Football Associations of Ogun and Oyo States, Ganiyu Majekodunmi
and James Odeniran. Former Ekiti State FA chairman Isaac Ayodele was also in
attendance.
Also at last year’s
edition, Akinwunmi, who captained the Igbobi College Old Boys Association and
Friends in the veterans’ game against Amaju Pinnick –led All-Stars said: “I am
very excited because this is only the second edition and yet, it feels like it
has been going on for decades. The number of dignitaries, the atmosphere, the
goodwill, I’m so happy. I believe there is no greater joy in giving back to the
society, and I’m very comfortable with the cause that the Seyi Akinwunmi
Foundation has chosen.”
NFF President Amaju
Pinnick played the entire duration of the veterans’ game and scored a stunner
for the opening goal in his team’s 3-2 win. He told thenff.com: “The twin
factors of assisting the young ones to attain academic and sporting excellence
by the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation is noble. We must commend him for
coming up with this idea.
“The present NFF
administration is committed to youth development, so we will always give total
support to projects like this.”
NFF 2nd Vice President
Shehu Dikko, who also played the entire duration of the veterans’ game, on the
side of the All-Stars that posted some eye –catching displays, also lauded the
Akinwunmi Foundation: “There is absolutely nothing like giving back to
humanity. This program is spot-on in the area of charity and youth development
and deserves the support of every lover of humanity.”
Last year, there were
matches by teams in the U-13 category as curtain-raiser, while the final of the
Mini-Tournament itself, between Team MTN and 36 Lion Investment, ended 2-1 in
favour of Team MTN.
On his assumption of
office as NFF 1st VP two years ago, colleagues and associates of the debonair
lawyer sought to host Akinwunmi to a celebratory party but he humbly declined,
opting rather to host a charity event for intelligent and indigent children in
Lagos State. From an idea to bring together friends, colleagues, associates and
well-wishers in a convivial atmosphere to enjoy football and also raise funds
for a good cause, the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Mini-Tournament was conceived as a
special project to give back to the society.
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