President's Remarks on the occasion of his investiture as the Grand Patron of Football Supporters Club

President Goodluck Jonathan Vice President
Arc. Namadi Sambo 5^th left Sport Minister Mallam Abdullahi
Mohammed 3^rd right with Members of the Super
Eagle Supporters Club at the State House Abuja 19th Feb., 2014

Remarks by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
On the
Occasion of His Investiture as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club
State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja
Wednessday 19th February, 2014

1.            I count it a great honour for this conferment and decoration as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club. I now consider myself as the Number One Supporter of Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

2.            Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I want to specially dedicate this honour to all members of my cabinet and all Nigerians of good will.

Minister Mallam  Adbullahi Mohammed left President
General of the Nigeria Super Eagle  Supporters Club. Alhaji
Rauf Oladipupo Presenting a Trophy to  President Goodluck 
Jonathan after decorating the President as the Grand Patron of
the Club at the State House Abuja 19th Feb., 2014

3.            I have always been a keen supporter of all our National Teams in all sports. This ceremony however officially confers on me the formal responsibility of leading our supporters in cheering our National Football Teams whenever we are engaged in competitions.  The Supporters Club as you are all aware has come of age, having been in existence for over 57 years.

4.            I am aware that the activities of the Club, centres primarily on rendering the necessary support for all the National Football Teams, anywhere they are involved in football competitions.

5.            I want to also commend the Nigeria Supporters Club for your services to our great country. I am told, some of you make great sacrifices of funding your trips to competitions in support of our National Teams. Clearly, your services are voluntary and purely out of passion for football, and patriotism for our fatherland.

6.            It is therefore joyful, to be associated with the Club which has contributed greatly in creating a unique identity for our National Football Teams, and in the process, has brought smiles to the faces of millions of Nigerians through its encouraging songs, drums and trumpets, to produce cheering music, that is uniquely Nigerian.

7.            There is no doubt that your activities as we have witnessed over the years, has helped in no small measure to give our players the necessary confidence to excel, wherever they compete around the world.  I urge you not to relent in your effort.

8.            On your part, you have won lots of awards as the best Supporters Club at several football competitions. You deserve commendation, as a true national brand, and the Nation is most grateful.

President  Goodluck Jonathan  been Decorated  by
the President General of the Nigeria Super Eagle Supporters
Club  Alhaji Rauf Oladipupo as the Grand Patron
of the Club at the State House Abuja 19th Feb., 2014

9.            Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, my administration will not relent in giving the support required to our sportsmen and women to excel at all international competitions. This, by extension includes the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, and I enjoin your strong partnership in this regard.

10.       This year, 2014, is a very significant year for our sports.  As we prepare for the World Cup in Brazil and the Commonwealth Games immediately after, I urge the Nigeria Football Supporters Club not to relent in its very important role of cheering our athletes and sportsmen to victory.

 11.       Indeed every Nigerian should be a member of this supporters club; so next time our sports men and women are playing, be proud to sing along and swing to the beat - from your sitting room, if you were unable to make it to the stadium!

 12.       The Federal Government of Nigeria under my leadership will continue to support the Nigeria Football Supporters Club. In this regard, I announce a donation of fifty million naira to you in support of your programme, especially as it is a crucial year for our campaign for the world cup in Brazil. I will also appeal to our friends for further support.

13.       I thank the Nigerian Football Supporters Club most sincerely for this recognition and may God bless you all.

14.       I thank you.

President  Goodluck Jonathan  been Decorated  by   the President General of the Nigeria Super Eagle Supporters Club  Alhaji Rauf Oladipupo as the Grand Patron of the Club at the State House Abuja 19th Feb., 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan, Grand Patron Nigeria
Football Supporters Club 19th Feb., 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan  as Grand Patron of the Nigeria 
Super Eagle Supporters Club with him is the Vice President
Arc. Namadi Sambo at the State House Abuja 19th Feb., 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan  as Grand Patron of the Nigeria
Super Eagle Supporters Club with him is the Vice President
Arc. Namadi Sambo at the State House Abuja 19th Feb., 2014

Courtesy: State House Photo