By Wale Ajayi
Calm and calculated, focused and concentrated, quiet and achieving. These are some of the adjectives that best describes this bullish goalgetter called Mallam Shehu Dikko.
Dikko has once again added a feather to his big cap by putting together a showpiece reception for FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his vice, Patrice Motsepe who is also the president of the confederation of Africa football.
Wednesday’s event held at the Sky Lounge of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos was the perfect platform for LMC chairman and second vice president of the Nigeria football federation to show the world his managerial, administrative and organizational qualities.
On a very short notice, Dikko left tongues wagging as to how he was able to achieve these much in just under one week.
The event had in attendance FIFA and CAF presidents, two service ministers of the federal republic of Nigeria, seven serving FA presidents from across Africa, Central Bank president Godwin Emefiele, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, captains of industries, NFF sponsors and willing partners, Members of the NFF executive committee, a few other key football stakeholders, friends of Nigeria football and many more.
The hall glittered with class and panache, the ocassion had a touch of beauty and style and the sumptous dinner was spiced with the best delicacies anyone can dream of.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick was all smiles after the dinner as he shook hands with his friend of many years, as if to say, thanks for a job well-done.
The amazing thing about Wednesday’s dinner is that, everyone invited was present, guests were seated at the right time and the planning and execution was top notch.
To cap it all, the chairman event organizing committee, Shehu Dikko delivered a mind blowing opening address that drew applause from the large audience present. His speech captured all the key points and paved the way for a night of short speeches and glowing commentaries.
This is coming just few days after Nigeria biggest betting company Bet9ja and the league management company LMC, agreed a mouthwatering sponsorship deal for the Nigeria Professional football league worth over 250m naira. And to make it even more interesting, central bank president Emefiele got so captivated by the sheer intelligence displayed by Dikko and has promised that the Bank is willing to tidy up a deal with the NPFL in the coming days.
Dikko was also part of the delegation of the honourable sports minister Sunday Dare that presented FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe to president Mohammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa where the team also presented a FIFA branded jersey to Mr president.
