Ikpeme Pledges Greater Service To UNILORIN After Ambassadorial Investiture

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Deputy General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, MON, has pledged to continue promoting the ideals, values and image of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) following his investiture as a University Ambassador.

Ikpeme received the honour on Monday at a ceremony presided over by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN.

Describing the recognition as both an honour and a call to greater service, Ikpeme dedicated the award to God, his family, mentors, colleagues and supporters.

“It’s a great honour to be given an award by the university. Thank you very much, sir,” he said.

As part of the ceremony, Ikpeme presented copies of his newly published book, Perspectives on Sports Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Ways Forward, to the university.

He donated five copies, with three going to the university library and two to the Department of Human Kinetics, where he was a former student.

“I felt I should make a contribution to sports in general, so I published a book, which was unveiled on 18 June,” Ikpeme said.

He also announced a ₦1 million annual donation towards the university’s Vice-Chancellor’s Football Competition for students.

Under the initiative, ₦500,000 will go to the winners, ₦300,000 to the runners-up and ₦200,000 to the third-placed team.

“When I visited your office, I asked for clarification on the university’s annual Vice-Chancellor’s football competition for students. Having confirmed that, I want to donate ₦1 million to that competition every year — ₦500,000 for the winning team, ₦300,000 for the runners-up, and ₦200,000 for third place,” Ikpeme said.

Ikpeme said the commitment was part of his desire to support sports development and encourage young talents at the institution.

Egbewole said Ikpeme was selected for the ambassadorial honour because he had consistently projected the university positively through his professional and public engagements.

Ikpeme previously lectured at the University of Calabar before serving as Sole Administrator of the Cross River State Sports Council.

He joined the NFF as Deputy Secretary-General (Technical) in 2007 and rose to become Deputy General Secretary in 2015, a position he continues to hold.