In a significant boost for grassroots football development in Nigeria, former Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Amos Adamu, has been officially named Grand Patron of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Annual All Nigeria Secondary School Football Championship.
Dr. Adamu accepted the honorary role during a courtesy visit by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation to his residence in Abuja, where he reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to youth sports and national development. He lauded the late football hero Samuel Okwaraji as a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice, describing the tournament as a vital legacy project to immortalise his contribution to Nigerian football.
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“Samuel Okwaraji remains a beacon of national pride whose selfless sacrifice continues to inspire. I am deeply honoured to support this noble initiative aimed at nurturing young talent and preserving his legacy,” Dr. Adamu said.
He urged the Nigerian government and corporate entities to channel more resources into youth-focused sports programs, stressing that such initiatives are essential for empowering the nation’s teeming youth population.
Joining the visit was former Super Eagles player and coach Samson Siasia, who praised Dr. Adamu’s lifelong impact on Nigerian sports. Siasia expressed optimism that the tournament would unearth future football stars in the mould of Okwaraji, who tragically died on the pitch while representing Nigeria in 1989.
Also speaking at the event, Chidozie Achonwa, Secretary of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, hailed Okwaraji as “a national icon and a symbol of unity.” He highlighted the foundation’s mission to use sports as a tool for social change and youth development, thanking Dr. Adamu for his past efforts, including his pivotal role in repatriating Okwaraji’s belongings from Belgium to Nigeria.
The championship, scheduled to feature secondary school teams from across the nation, will culminate in a grand finale in Abuja and is expected to become a flagship event in Nigeria’s youth sports calendar.
Other dignitaries at the event included Stella Agu, former captain of First Bank Basketball Team; Dr. Okechukwu Duru; and members of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation.
The event marks a new chapter in the drive to promote youth football in Nigeria, with Dr. Amos Adamu’s endorsement seen as a catalyst for greater national and international support.
