Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, has sent his heartfelt congratulations to Amaju Pinnick, the former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for being conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Prior to his departure on May 29, President Buhari bestowed national honors upon several individuals, including Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Mamman Daura, and Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank, alongside Pinnick.
In a personally signed letter obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Infantino acknowledged that the award was a well-deserved honor, recognizing Pinnick’s exemplary dedication to football development, particularly within the FIFA Council.
“Through this letter, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on being honored with the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by His Excellency Mr. Muhammadu Buhari,” Infantino expressed in the letter.
Infantino’s letter continued, stating, “This is a well-deserved honor that recognizes your passion and exceptional dedication to serving the international football community, particularly within the FIFA Council. Your outstanding contribution to the development of Nigerian, African, and global football, along with your remarkable qualities and abilities, deserve our utmost admiration.”
In conclusion, Infantino expressed his congratulations once more and expressed his anticipation of meeting Pinnick again in the near future.
