When Football Needs a Barrister

By Bunmi Blair.

Football today has become a veritable tool, used to drive social change. Football has given life to the lifeless, help promote world peace and contribute to happiness. In Africa, it’s becoming a viable economic tool and contributing to infrastructural development. In essence, football can become what you project it to be. 

Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation and chairman Lagos State Football Association, belonging to the ‘digital age” of Nigeria Football, which breaks from the norm of rigidity found in the conventional way of doing things.

Akinwunmi’s life as a philanthropist is well documented. He has contributed in no small measure to various charities aimed at the development and improvement of children. He is devoted to the promotion of human welfare and social reforms. His stellar works include his involvement with the Parents Against Autism Initiative (PAAI);

Courage Education Foundation (CEF): a not-for-profit organization which he founded is dedicated to the empowerment of the Nigerian child through the provision of quality education made available to all irrespective of gender, faith or ethnicity. Over 200 (Two hundred) Nigerian children have benefited in the initiative in the past 12 (twelve years), with their education catered for from primary school through tertiary institutions;

Also, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation (SACF): a charity to raise funds for charity through various projects including the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Mini Tournament (SACMT) a yearly fiesta of football, is aimed at helping rehabilitate ailing ex-international footballers, feed a minimum of 1000 (one thousand) children and fund the education of talented, intelligent and indigent children. Over 25 (twenty-five) of them in the past 3 (Three) years have been selected.

As the Lagos State Football Association Chairman and a Board Member of Nigeria Football Federation, Akinwunmi believes in the school of thought which says “football belongs to the youth”; thus he led the creation of an NFF youth development policy, which uses data to monitor the progress of young footballers of Nigeria descent. Created the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Super Eagles U-13/U-15 Tournament which has registered over 22, 000 youth players and is responsible for discovery 8 (Eight) members of the current Nigeria National U17 male football team players who have just helped the country qualify for 2019 AFCON.

His leadership acumen help stop the aberration happening in the Nigeria National League (NNL), by ensuring teams stopped paying the indemnities of Match Officials, thereby reducing the chances of match-fixing.

Seyi Akinwunmi has also displayed competence when saddled with big national responsibilities such as Super Eagles 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Grouped alongside AFCON defending champions, Cameroon, Africa’s then highest FIFA ranked country, Algeria and 2012 AFCON champions, Zambia, very few football pundits gave the Super Eagles any chance of making it to Russia 2018. But with Akinwunmi as chairman NFF’s Organising Committing, the Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the world cup with a match to spare, in what has been widely adjudged the best in the country’s history.

Seyi Akinwunmi was the thinker when Lagos State successfully hosted the 2016 AFCON Beach Soccer Tournament. He also successfully led the organization of 2018 NFF/Aiteo Football Awards which attracted FIFA President, FIFA Secretary General and CAF President, another first in Africa.

The “Bridge Builder,” Seyi Akinwunmi has mapped out plans to improve on his existing legacy. He says it’s time to;  

Football Development:

1.     Create “Let the girl play” Youth Women Football enlightenment program.

2.     Commence NFF/Zenith U15 Women Football competition.

3.     Create Academy tournaments to commence the accreditation of football academies in the country.

4.     Create a U13, U15and U17 NFF ‘virtual’ Football Academy and a scouting education plan across all Zones with the Players Union.

5.     Develop and host an annual National Youth Football Development Seminar.

6.     Collaborate with the Nigeria Referees Association to institutionalize the use of youth referees for youth tournaments

League Development:

1.     Enhance more coordination between the NFF and all leagues to create a high minimum standard for each league.

2.     Support the Women football leagues to be stronger and more attractive.

3.     Coordinate a youth development platform with Nationwide League One (NLO).

4.     Promote and support more age-grade State Leagues, Zonal leagues, and competitions

Organizing Committee:

1.     Ensure that NFF football matches are organized in line with international standards.

2.     Ensure that all National Teams are adequately motivated.

3.     Lead the hosting of a World-Class NFF/AITEO Football Awards.

4.     Champion the full digitalization of the Competition Department of the NFF

5.     Ensure National team coaches are sent on refresher courses

6.     Project and support the Nigerian Referees in their quest to becoming one of the best football arbiters in the world.

Bridge Builder:

1.     Will champion the strengthening of the Zones, the State FA’s and the other Congress members, towards the development of Nigeria football along the statutory lines of FIFA/CAF.

2.     Continue to work with the Chairman of Chairmen and the NFF President to forge a stronger relationship between all the six (6) zones.

3.     Expand the Nationwide opportunities of scholarships for young footballers through the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation.

The Barrister with a heart of gold still wants to give to football what it truly deserves.