The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, has disclosed that sports and tourism will generate funds for the development of the African continent if properly harnessed.
Gusau spoke in Abuja over the weekend shortly after he was decorated as a Patron of
Africa and Sports Tourism Award (ASTA) by a non governmental organisation (NGO), the Project Fly With Us Afrika for their contributions to sports in Africa.
At the event, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, High Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was also decorated as the Life Patron of the Africa and Sports Tourism Award (ASTA).
Gusau, who commended Iwuanyanwu for his contributions to the Nigerian football, added that it is time Africa took a deeper look on how sports and tourism can showcase its rich potentials and culture to the world.
“As the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, he has a great role to play in what we’re doing especially for football in Nigeria. It is great honour as somebody that God has given the privilege to manage the affairs of football in this great country, to be with you because everybody knows what you have done for football in Nigeria.
“We need to be serious about sports and tourism because it is something that will bring people together from different backgrounds. We really don’t know what we have here in Africa but it is time to let the whole world know what we have here. Sports and tourism will not only promote our rich culture but can generate funds for Africa,” Gusau said.
Also speaking, Iwuanyanwu, who described sports as a tool for national and economic development, said football is a unifying factor that binds Nigerians together.
“I’m very delighted to have very distinguished men and women of this great country, Nigeria with me. These are people who are united by their desire to use sports as a tool for national development, as a tool to support tourism, economic development, for supporting character and of course bringing entertainment to people.
“I want to thank you immensely for considering me worthy to be given this award. I’m a lover of sports and we can see that the greatest thing that binds us together in Nigeria is football. I promise to give you all the necessary support to succeed,” Iwuanyanwu stated.
Earlier, the President, Project Fly With Us Afrika and Convener of Africa and Sports Tourism Awards, Ambassador Peace Onuiri, said the awardees have contributed to the development and growth of sports in Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole.
According to her, the award is basically about how to use sports to drive tourism, adding that tourism, if well harnessed, can improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the whole Africa.
“This award is all about how sports is going to drive tourism. Tourism alone can improve the Gross Domestic Product GDP of the whole African continent. We are looking at how the interrelationship between sports and tourism can contribute to African development. If we are saying sports is driving tourism, we have to marry both”, she said.
Sports, tourism’ll generate money for Africa development if… – Gusau
