Outgoing Minister of Sports and Youths Development Sunday Dare has applauded veteran journalist Clement Nwankpa Jr. for his foresight in chronicling Nigeria’s participation at the FIFA World Cup in a book.
The Minister who also wrote the foreward to the book disclosed that the country has a rich culture of nurturing youngsters at the secondary and tertiary levels which positively impacted on the quality of players at the clubs and the national teams.
He was represented at the event by Kola Daniels, one of his aides.
Others eminent personalities like the former Nigeria Football Federation 1st vice president Barrister Sheyi Akinwumi and Mallam Shehu Dikko also gave kudos to the author for his sacrifice towards uplifting the nation’s football to a greater height.
The duo stated this during a book launched in Abuja titled “Nigeria at FIFA Age Group Tournaments, Discoveries , Gains, Losses.
Akinwumi told the audience that he left Lagos for Abuja yesterday because he does not want to miss the event for any reason. He praised the book for its factual and described it as a watershed in the nation’s football journey.
While Mallam Dikko praised the author’s tenacity and thoroughness in chronicling the event of the past years.
The book is a complication of all the players the country has feature for the country at the FIFA tournament since inception.
In his remarks the author told the audience that the lockdown during Covid 19 gave birth to the book.
Other guests spoke glowingly about the book in the brief and colourful ceremony.