Is Taiwo Ogunjobi the best man for the NFF job?

goal.com

As the race to become the next president of the Nigeria Football Federation hots up, we examine one of the aspirants gunning for the hotseat.

Being the president of the Nigeria Football Federation has been likened to landing the responsibility of overseeing the administration of the United States of America, however, there are several figures who are keen to handle the responsibility.

Taiwo Ogunjobi is a name that needs no introduction as it rings a bell when it comes to the administration of the round leather game in the country. Well, it won’t be out of place at this juncture to call him the most experienced of the trio battling to become the boss of the NFF.

What are his antecedents? What informed his decision to become the country’s football head? Will his wealth of experience give him an edge over other contenders, and what are his plans for the growth of the beautiful game in the country should he emerge winner come September 30?

“I did not just wake up one day to aspire for this position. There has been a build-up. In all modesty, I would say I did a lot for the country and in the process got prepared for this challenge.” - Ogunjobi.

As a footballer, Ogunjobi was a key member of the WNDC (now Shooting Stars Sports Club), and due to his brilliance on the field of play, he was made captain of the Nigeria Academicals between 1973-74. During that year, he led the country’s football team to win the Nigeria/Ghana Sports festival and his raw talents did not go unnoticed by national team selectors as he got a call up to the Green Eagles in 1973.

Unlike some of his colleagues, who took to coaching after their playing career, he went in to the administration of the game and became the secretary of 3SC a few years after hanging up his boots. He was diligent at work and was soon promoted to the rank of the General Manager of the club before becoming the sole administrator of the Oluyole Warriors.

In 1999, he became president of then-Nigeria Premier League outfit Gabros international, and under his stewardship, the club witnessed a meteoric rise as they became one of the most feared teams in the country, being tagged ‘giant killers’ in the process.

After a brief stint with the Nnewi-based club, he returned as General Manager of Julius Berger, a position he held for two years before attempting a bite at the Nigeria Football Association.


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In 2002, Ogunjobi emerged as the Secretary General of the NFA and, after the expiration of his tenure, he was appointed Chairman of the Technical Committee of the football house. While in charge, the country qualified for all international football competitions at all levels for the first time. Recently, he was the chairman of Prime FC of Ogbomosho

"I remember that I became the Secretary of the NFA after battling it out with 56 candidates. During my time in the glass house, Enyimba won the Caf Champions League for the first time, and our national teams did very well on the international scene. As it concerns international experience, I have it both as a player and as administrator,” Ogunjobi told Goal.

"During that time, we had no issues with the players aas they were paid as at when due and we won lots of laurels. I have gathered enough experience that will make me succeed as NFF President. I have a positive vision for Nigeria football.”

This optimism is plausible, but what are Ogunjobi's plans for the federation should he take the role?

"To raise the standard of the game of football in Nigeria, I will embark first on reconciliation of all football stake holders to become one big happy family again.

"You would agree with me that for the past four years, it has been from one crisis to the other and I must tell you that what we have now is not what we are looking for. Football is the unifying factor in the country and without that we will keep struggling in other facets of life."

Even considering these big commendations, the administrator has linked with many controversies. First, he was mentioned in the case of the alleged misappropriation of N1.4bn while serving under sacked President of Nigeria Football Federation, Sani Lulu.

Also, in 2013, former Flying Eagles striker Kayode Olarenwaju accused him of being the obstacle in his bid to secure a move to Europe as he was alleged for signing documents that tied him to ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire. This saga earned him a reversed 10-year ban by the NFF from all football activities. 

According to Ogunjobi, his mission includes fervent consolidation on the entire youth programme as attention will be shifted to grassroots football development which will see the country parade the best legs in age grade competitions and, not only that, will see them progress to other cadres of the national team.

Under him, the era of Nigeria's football referees being snubbed by Caf and Fifa will be over, as he will do all it takes to ensure the country’s arbiters are picked for international competition.

"I will return the country to international politics. How many of our match officials are picked for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations? That was not the case when I was the Secretary of the Nigeria Football Association as we have referees that can rub shoulders with the best in the world.

"I pledge to be committed to the administration of our football and to the entire football fraternity which is very dear to my heart. If voted in, I will embark on aggressive sponsorship drive and promise to not to let Nigerians down. So help me God!"

Ogunjobi to be, or not to be: that is the question but we can only hope from here that the best candidate wins come September 30, 2014.

As Confucius wrote in The Analects, "He who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man - follow him." Will that man be Ogunjobi come the end of the month?