By Akeem Busari
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) at the weekend held its extraordinary annual general meeting in Lagos.
The well-attended AGM which was held at the high brow Lekki Coliseum, Lagos, was epochal as it had in attendance, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Secretary- General, Tunde Popoola, Rugby Afrique executive member, Khaled Babbou, a representative of the ministry of sports, as well as, NRFF board members.
The event which was to ratify the body’s constitution, practically foreclosed all issues that besotted the federation recently, particularly the ban imposed on it by the international bodies.
It began with a diligent supervision of accreditation for members of the rugby family, by Rugby Afrique executive member, Khaled Babbou, including the players’, coaches, referees and clubs associations.
In his opening remarks, the NRFF president, Kelechukwu Mbagwu, expressed his happiness over the occasion which he described as historic.
” Today, is indeed, historic as it marks the beginning of a new dawn for rugby in Nigeria,” Mbagwu noted.
The interactive meeting moved on to the review and eventual ratification of the body’s constitution. And it was unanimously accepted by the congress.
Khaled Babbou in his speech congratulated the NRFF on the success of the event, adding that it would make a positive impact on the fortunes of the game in the country.
The technical director of the federation, Ntiese Williams, harped on the future of the game in the country, which according to him, looks brighter in lieu of the expected lift of the ban on body by Rugby Afrique and the world body.
” These are truly interesting moments for rugby in Nigeria, ” Williams stated.
“With the ratification of the constitution by this congress, we are confident that the ban on the NRFF, which I say is self-induced, would soon be a thing of the past,” he enthused confidently.
