Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Deputy General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, MON, has promised to uphold the University of Ilorin’s ideals, values and reputation after being inducted as a University Ambassador on Monday.
Ikpeme pledges continued support
- In written remarks issued around the ceremony, Ikpeme said the distinction represented more than an acknowledgement of his previous work. He described it as a fresh responsibility to serve more, while dedicating the honour to God, his family, mentors, colleagues and supporters.
- Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, presided over the investiture. Ikpeme said receiving recognition from the institution held deep personal meaning, adding: “I am truly honoured by this award from the university. Thank you very much, sir.”
- The NFF official also presented his recently published book, Perspectives on Sports Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Ways Forward, to the university. He donated five copies, with three allocated to the university library and two to his former department, Human Kinetics.
- Ikpeme said he wrote the book as a way of contributing to the wider development of sport. The publication was unveiled on 18 June.
- As part of his pledge to remain involved in the university’s progress, he committed ₦1 million each year to the students’ Vice-Chancellor’s football competition. The prize allocation will be ₦500,000 for the champions, ₦300,000 for the runners-up and ₦200,000 for the third-placed team.
Why the honour was awarded
Egbewole said Ikpeme earned the ambassadorship because his public and professional activities had consistently presented the University of Ilorin in a positive manner over many years.
Ikpeme previously spent several years as a lecturer at the University of Calabar before becoming Sole Administrator of the Cross River State Sports Council. He entered the NFF in 2007 as Deputy Secretary General (Technical) and was promoted to Deputy General Secretary in 2015.
