Press Releases

FIFA Under-17 World Cup Trophy Arrives Lagos
...Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan promises capacity attendance at matches

Oct 8, 2009 - Publicity campaigns for the successful hosting of the U-17 World Cup championship in Nigeria heightened in Lagos on Thursday with the public presentation of the FIFA U-17 Trophy to the Lagos State Governor at the Lagos Seat of Government, Alausa, Ikeja by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Nigeria 2009.

Speaking while receiving the members of the LOC of the FIFA U-17 Competition and Nigerian Football Supporters Club with the trophy at her Round House Office, Alausa, on behalf of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan urged all residents of Lagos to come out en-masse during the competition to watch all the matches.

The Deputy Governor said it is only through capacity attendance at the stadium that the people of Lagos can proof to the whole world that football is a game that is synonymous with the people of Lagos.

Princess Sosan also assured that the State Government would ensure that the stands are fully filled during the competition, emphasizing that mobilization of the people is very vital for the successful hosting of the championship.

She also said she is very sure that Nigeria would be hosting to win at the competition, and assured FIFA that its decision to award the hosting rights to Nigeria was a right one.

The Deputy Governor also charged members of the Organized Private Sector not to sit on the fence as preparations heighten, but to buy into the competition by offering sponsorship towards a successful hosting.

She reiterated her appeal to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all officers of the Customs Excise and Immigrations at the various entry points show hospitality of Nigerians to the visitors.

The Deputy Governor said many of the visitors coming for the competition would take away impressions of what the country represents based on what they encounter, adding that it is the best opportunity for rebranding Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos sub seat of the Local Organizing Committee of the U-17 Competition, Mr Amanze Uchegbulam said the flag off of the publicity campaign is a follow up on the breakfast meeting the LOC had with the Organized Private Sector last week.

He revealed that the Lagos sub seat is a sub seat with a record of many firsts just as it is the first sub seat in the country to have purchased 15,000 matches tickets for all the matches to be played in Lagos at a cost of N28Million.

The Head of Marketing of the LOC, Mr Mike Itemuagbor said with the safe arrival of the U-17 Trophy in Lagos which represents Nigeria, the journey to the successful hosting rights has started.

He also presented the mascot of the U-17 Nigeria 2009 competition named ‘Bobo’ to the audience which also included some members of the national LOC committee.

The President General of the Nigerians Football Supporters Club and Chairman, Awareness Public Mobilisation, Dr Rafiu Ladipo later presented the trophy to Princess Sarah Sosan as a symbolic sign of the commencement of the publicity campaign while Mr Amanze Uchegbulam also presented a cheque of N28Million to Mr Mike Itemuagbor as payment for 15,000 tickets at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, courtesy of the Lagos State Government.

The ceremony was attended by members of the State Executive Council members of the national LOC and the Lagos Sub seat of the LOC and members of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club.