Sports Minister appoints Mikel Obi as youth ambassador

Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has named former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi as Nigeria’s youth ambassador to help promote sports in the country.

The appointment marks Mikel’s return to national duty since his retirement from the national team after the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2019 where he led the team to a third-place finish.

Dare, while addressing journalists at the National Stadium, Lagos on Friday said the appointment of the former Chelsea midfielder would benefit the country’s youths.

He said, “The details of Mikel’s position are what we will be working out very soon with him and his team. We have our team at the ministry, we will draw up an MoU and work on the details. We are excited about him accepting to be a youth ambassador because beyond football he can mentor them about sports and about the lessons he has learned as a young person and as a legend.”

Reacting to the appointment, Mikel said he was ready to help take Nigerian sports to the pinnacle.

“I always like to take up new challenges and I am really grateful to the minister for the trust in me to be the ambassador. It is one challenge I am looking forward to taking. We can work together to make sure we bring sports back to where it should be.”