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FCC Chair Omidiran Calls for Stronger Institutional Partnerships to Promote Equity and Unity Through Football
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Ayo Omidiran, has stressed the need to deepen institutional partnerships as a means of promoting inclusiveness, equity, and transparency in governance, particularly in sectors such as football that play a vital role in fostering national unity.
Hon. Omidiran made the remarks on Thursday, February 5, while receiving the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, alongside members of the NFF board and management, during a courtesy visit to the FCC headquarters in Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation, Omidiran reiterated the constitutional mandate of the Federal Character Commission, noting that its oversight responsibilities extend across Nigeria’s public sector institutions, including those connected to sports administration. She emphasized that football, as a national unifying force, must reflect the principles of equity, fairness, and balanced representation.
“The Federal Character Commission supervises and monitors over 700 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across the country. Institutions connected to sports administration are not exempt from the principles of equity, fairness, and national balance,” Omidiran said, in the company of Hon. Halima Ahmadu Jabiru, Commissioner representing Nasarawa State.
She added that collaboration between the FCC and the Nigeria Football Federation would help advance shared goals of inclusiveness and transparency, while also harnessing football’s ability to unite Nigerians across regions and backgrounds.
“Our collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation will advance our vision of ensuring that opportunities in governance and sports are inclusive, transparent, and representative of Nigeria’s diversity. We will also leverage the unifying power of football to bring Nigerians closer together,” she said.
The former Nigeria Women Football League chairman and proprietor of Omidiran Babes further highlighted the importance of engagement between regulatory institutions and sporting bodies in strengthening accountability, fairness in appointments, and balanced national representation within football administration.
Earlier, NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau congratulated Hon. Omidiran on her appointment, describing her as a trailblazer in women’s football administration. He recalled her past roles as a member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Development Committee.
“We are here to congratulate Hon. Omidiran on her new appointment and to pay a solidarity visit to her as a long-time, high-ranking member of the Nigerian football family,” Gusau said.
He reaffirmed the NFF’s recognition of the FCC’s role in promoting fairness and national cohesion, expressing optimism about closer collaboration between both institutions.
“The Nigeria Football Federation recognises the critical role of the Federal Character Commission in promoting fairness and national unity. We look forward to strengthening collaboration that supports balanced development within our football structures,” he added.
The NFF delegation included First Vice President Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Board Member and Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) Chairman Hon. Silas Agara, Secretary General Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, Director of Competitions Ms. Ruth David, Director of Finance and Administration Mr. Rajan Zaka, as well as other senior NFF officials.
