Baskadia

The Nasarawa State Football Association Normalisation Committee has inaugurated newly elected Boards of the thirteen Local Government Areas of the State.

At a ceremony held at the Board Room of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, on Wednesday in Lafia, Barr. Haruna Favour Iliyasu, administered the Oath of Office to the new Board Members.

Chairman of the State Football Association Normalisation Committee, Hon. Aliyu Bello, congratulated the inaugurated Board Members, with a charge on them to strictly adhere to the mandate of their new offices by taking football to the next level.

He thanked the Nasarawa State Government for providing level-playing ground for the success of the Council Election.

Aliyu Bello also appreciated other stakeholders for contributing their quota to the outcome of the Council Election.

Chairman, Nasarawa United FC, Dr. Othman Ibrahim Ahmed, urged the new Board Members to sustain the passion in them by initiating policies and programmes that aimed at developing football at the grassroots level.

He admonished them to build bridges of peace by carrying every stakeholder along and shun acts capable of destroying the development of the round leather game in their various communities.

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, who represented the Ministry's Commissioner, applauded the Hon. Aliyu Bello-led Normalisation Committee for ensuring the successful conduct of the Council Election and steps taken to have a hitch-free State FA Election on 4th November, 2023.

He congratulated the newly inaugurated Boards of the Councils

While calling on the new Board Members to work hard to change the narratives, the Permanent Secretary assured of Government's continued partnership and support to football and sports development in the State, and distanced the State Government from interfering with the conduct of the State FA Election, stressing it has no preferred candidate, whatever, calling on delegates to vote those who can contribute to the growth and development of football in the State.

Danladi commended the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation for applying dexterity in the appointment of individuals with proven qualities to form the Normalisation Committee in Nasarawa State.

Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated Members, Chairman of Keffi Football Council, Mahmud Sidi Lawal, thanked the Normalisation Committee and the State Government for ensuring a free, fair and transparent process at the Councils' Election.

He said the new Boards will work together with the yet-to-be constituted Board of the State Football Association to take the game to an enviable height.

The inaugurated Council Chairmen were Atu Z. Yepwi(Karu), Hassan Mohammed (Nasarawa), Mahmud Sidi Lawal(Keffi), Aliyu I. Uba(Lafia), Abubakar Gambo(Awe), Nasir Na'Ali(Keana), Usman Aliyu Adela(Doma), Yakubu Abimiku(Nasarawa-Eggon), Salihu Musa(Toto), Usman Kasimu(Akwanga), Oyikiza A. Okposhi(Obi) Matthew Dodo(Kokona) and Abdulmumuni Said(Wamba).

Certificate of Office was issued to each of the Chairmen by the Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Hon. Aliyu Bello

In a similar vein, the Nasarawa State Football Association Normalisation Committee also inaugurated the Electoral and Appeals' Committees for the State FA Election slated for Saturday, 4th November, 2023, in Keffi.

The five-man Electoral Committee comprises Barr. Haruna Favour Iliyasu(Chairman), Salisu Ibrahim(Member), Adams Jesse Odoba(Member), Danlami Wakili(Member) and Darda'u Ishaq Agwai(Member).

The Appeals' Committee is made of three members, including Barr. Thomas Oboshi(Chairman), Nasiru Ibrahim Dogara (Member) and Dr. Emmanuel Ali Attah(Member).

The ceremony was witnessed by other Members of the State FA Normalization Committee, including former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Othman Bala Adam, Chairperson, Nasarawa Amazons FC and Vice Chairman, Board of Nigeria Women's Football, Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo, Team Manager , Nasarawa United FC, Solomon Babanjah, and Management of the Club, as well as other key stakeholders in the State.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Committee for the State FA Election has released timetable for the conduct of the Saturday's Election.

In the released timetable signed by the ELCOM Chairman, Barr. Haruna Favour Iliyasu, screening of aspirants holds on Thursday, 2nd November, 2023, at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Lafia, by 1 o'clock in the afternoon, with the publication of names of qualified candidates following immediately.

Date for the determination of appeals by aggrieved aspirants shall be fixed by the Appeals Committee in due time, while election holds on Saturday, 4th November, 2023, at Keffi Youth Centre by 10 o'clock in the morning.

Eche Amos (Fellow, CBS),

PRO,

Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

01/11/2023