Chairman of Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos, Dr. Adetilewa Adebajo, has petitioned world football governing body FIFA, calling for the historical recognition of his late father, Israel Adebajo, for his role in Nigeria’s affiliation with the organisation and urging an urgent review of the country’s football governance structure Completesports.com reports. In a memorandum dated 25 July 2026 and addressed to FIFA President Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, Dr.
Adebajo also called for the harmonisation of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), which he argued has created a dual governance structure that has hindered the development and commercialisation of Nigerian football. Dr.
Adebajo, who described Stationery Stores as the oldest surviving private football club in Nigeria, said the memorandum was intended to open a structured dialogue with FIFA on historical recognition, governance clarity and a reform pathway for Nigerian football. He urged FIFA to review, critique and, where appropriate, endorse a proposed reform framework before it is presented to the Federal Government of Nigeria and other football stakeholders for possible implementation.
A major part of the memorandum is Adebajo’s request that FIFA formally recognise the contribution of his late father, Israel Adebajo, alongside Sir Adetokunbo Ademola and G.K.J. Amachree, to Nigeria’s emergence within the international football system. According to Adebajo, Nigeria’s application for FIFA affiliation was submitted through the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1959 and subsequently ratified at the FIFA Congress in 1960.
Also Read: NFF Board Resignation: Stationery Stores Welcome Development, Call for FIFA Normalisation Committee He said Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, then Chief Justice of Nigeria and a leader of the Olympic Movement in the country, worked with Amachree, described as the first chairman of the indigenous Nigerian Football Association, and Israel Adebajo, the association’s first treasurer, to make Nigeria’s FIFA affiliation a reality.