The Confederation of African Football has announced its plan to honour Nigeria’s leader, President Muhamadu Buhari, with a special Platinum Award at the forthcoming 2015 Glo-CAF Awards.
At a joint press conference by CAF, the highest football authority in Africa and Globacom, the sponsor of the annual CAF Awards, CAF said the investiture of President Buhari with the Platinum Award will be held during the Glo-CAF Award Gala at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on January 7, 2016.
CAF said the decision to confer President Buhari with the special award was in line with the tradition of CAF to honour the President of the country where the Glo-CAF Awards is held and to also show appreciation to Buhari for his passionate commitment to the development of football in Africa.
CAF and Globacom at a joint press briefing in Abuja last Monday announced the top three players competing for the prized crown of African footballer of the year Award and the top three finalists for the Africa-based ‘Player of the Year’ Award as well as nominees in other award categories.
Speaking at the event, CAF Executive Committee Member, Moucharofou Anjorin, praised Globacom on behalf of CAF for being the leading corporate supporter of the game on the continent.
Anjorin said the CAF President and acting FIFA President, Alhaji Issa Hayatou, is exceedingly proud of the glamour Globacom has added to the Glo-CAF Awards since it took over the sponsorship in 2005.
Also speaking at the occasion, Second Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation and Chairman of the League Management Company, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, stated that he is delighted to represent at the event the Nigeria Football Federation and the entire 20 clubs in the Nigerian Premier League proudly sponsored by Globacom
Dikko commended Globacom for the long and outstanding support for Nigerian football, adding that the company’s investment is gradually propelling Nigeria’s football back to reckoning.
He stated further that Globacom has made Nigeria proud with the way the company has successfully partnered with CAF in the last 10 years in organizing the annual Glo-CAF awards.
Dikko said: “On behalf of Abuja residents, including the President who resides in Abuja, we congratulate Globacom for bringing this event to Abuja. This is the kind of event Abuja residents travel all over the world to attend. We are glad that Globacom has brought it to Abuja residents.”