SENSOR CHAPEL HOLDS 2024 ICONS WEEK ON NOVEMBER 8

All is now set for Sensor Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council to host her 2024 week of icons;  an annual gathering of journalists and friends of the Chapel for scholarship, spiritual and social convocation of some of  the best minds in the industry.

In a press release jointly signed by the Chapel Chairman, Comrade Michael Ufot and Secretary, Comrade Deborah Ekanem, the 2024 theme of the annual event stopper is " The Role Of The Local Media In The Development Of Akwa Ibom State" and it is  scheduled to take place at the NUJ Press Centre , Information Drive, IBB way , Uyo by 2PM on Friday,  November  8th 2024

 

The event has the Commissioner of Information, Akwa Ibom State , Comrade Ini Ememobong  as the Keynote Speaker while the  Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga is Chairman of  the occasion.

Other dignitaries expected at the event are Prof. Herbert Batta of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo who is the  Paper Presenter and The Mandate Secretary, Economic Development, Revenue Generation and Public /Private Partnership, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Architect Ubokutom Nyah  is expected  as the  Guest of Honour.

Energy Expert and Commentator on State and National issues , Dr. Wisdom Enang  and Comrade Thomas Thomas are   Guest Speakers while the Chairman of NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk is the Chief Host of the event 

According to the  release, the event promises to be an avenue for journalists to brainstorm on topical issues, share ideas and give back to the society

A run down of the event shows that there will be a special session to honour distinguished men and women who have contributed in no small measure to the growth of the the over 15 years old chapel, supported free press and by extension democratic norms and values

Activities of the week will end with a special thanksgiving service at the Lutheran church of Nigeria, 5 Udo Udoma Avenue by 9AM

The Chapel Chairman, Comrade Michael Ufot on behalf of exco and members warmly welcomes invited guests and the public to the event which is packed with a blend of scholarship and networking for the development of the local media in Akwa Ibom state

A'IBOM FA CHAIRMAN URGES SUPPORTERS, FANS, STAKEHOLDERS TO STAND FIRM AND SUPPORT AKWA UNITED

Akwa Ibom State Football Association Chairman, Mr. Samuel Umoh has appealed to supporters, fans and football lovers to be patient and keep supporting Akwa United Football Club of Uyo to do well in the Nigeria Premier league.

Umoh made the appeal while appearing on a live radio sports programmes in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital as part of the activities to herald the 2024 Obong Isong Isang Memorial Academies Championship.

Responding on what should be done to aid Akwa United Football Club to return to winning ways, the chairman said all Akwa United needs at this point is total support from all stakeholders and lovers of the game of football.

Reiterating that Akwa United is not a bad team, Umoh expressed cogent belief in the promise Keepers picking up their form and ending well in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier League season.

"All we need to help our darling Akwa United now is total support, there are teams that start poorly and end well and I believe that though Akwa is struggling at this early stage of the league but they will pick up with all our support ".

Also on the programme, Mr. Samuel Umoh invited football lovers in Akwa Ibom state to the opening ceremony of the 2024 OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP kicking off this Saturday 2nd November 2024 at the Uyo township stadium from 12 pm. He also hinted that the opening match will be preceded by cultural display, music performance and a parade of all the 19 academies registered for the championship amongst others.

The championship which is gaining endorsement and support from football stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria, and will run from Saturday 2nd November to Saturday 9th November 2024 with all the matches played at the prestigious Uyo township stadium

AKWA IBOM FA CONDUCTS DRAWS FOR OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP ... SETS FOR KICK OFF NOVEMBER 2ND 2024

Akwa Ibom state football association today conducts draws for the 2024 OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP

In the draws ceremony at the Uyo Township Stadium on Monday, 28th October, 2024, 19 registered academies were drawn in two groups of A and B with group A made up of  ten academies while group B is made up of nine Academies.

According to the draws, the opening match slated for 2nd November 2024 will be between immortality Academy and Nigeria Navy Soccer Academy by 4pm.

Other fixtures of the championship which will be played on knockout bases will have Nordic play  Heaven Race,

Eagle Eyes will be up against Artisan,

Wilnam sports academy will host De Ark  in group A while Blessed stars and Full life academies are drawn bye.

 In group B, Greenland  will start their campaign against Pillars Investors, Focus Academy will square up against Murphy's Stars, Olegacy will  be host of Greater Tomorrow, as 7th Wonders Academy will  play Real Dream Academy to compete group B with Virgin International is drawn bye 

Earlier, the State Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Football Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh reiterates the commitment of the Association to give Akwa Ibom State football lovers and Nigeria the best organised championship with every match featuring man of the match, pre and post match interviews as well as the technical committee coming out with an all stars team which will further represent the state in tours outside Akwa Ibom state.

Umoh, maintained that the Football Association under his watch is determined to ensure that they give the future stars the best orientation and charged the coaches and managers of the Academies to be at their best by instilling discipline and professionalism in their players before, during and after the championship.

Others who spoke during the draws were the chairman of the championship Mr. Raymond Essien who is also the vice Chairman of the Association, Nigeria Football Referees Akwa Ibom State Council representative by Dr. Rafael Inyang, representative of Nigeria Football coaches' Association, Coach Udobia Udobia and the representative of  grassroots and academies coaches, prophet Ubong, all luaded the sponsors of late Obong Isong Isang Memorial Academies championship and the Akwa Ibom State Football Association for giving them the platform to showcase their professionalism and as well developed football in Akwa Ibom state and by extension the world..

The championship is first of its kind in Akwa Ibom State and it is coming weeks after the Akwa Ibom State Football Association trained Academies owners, coaches and clubs on professionalism and sports business.

2024 U17 WORLD CUP: Nigeria pip Dominican Republic to set up date with USA

Shakirat Moshood’s 89th minute strike from 24 yards earned Nigeria all three points against a heroic Dominican Republic side in the two team’s final match of Group A at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday morning. The win ensured that Nigeria will battle USA in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Playing for the first time in Santo Domingo, the barnstorming Nigerians found the going tough under driving rain against a determined host nation, and could not make an overwhelming ball possession count until Moshood, now with four goals, unleashed a rocket from outside the box.

Captain Renata Mercedes and goalkeeper Rondon led a famous resistance against one of the elites of the competition, and the hosts deserved praise for their pushback that ensured the Flamingos made nothing out of 16 corner kicks.

Coach Bankole Olowookere made three changes to the starting line-up, bringing in Rokibat Azeez, Blessing Ifitezue and Ramotalahi Kareem in place of Onyedikachi Ekezie, Peace Effiong and Harmony Chidi.

He restored Effiong and Chidi after the hour, but it took a special effort from Moshood, scorer of the tournament’s fastest goal, to break the hearts of the hosts

Victory means the Flamingos top their group, three points better than second-placed Ecuador, who walloped New Zealand 4-0 to finish with six points and set up a clash with Spain on Sunday. Caprice Chiuchiolo netted a brace.

OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP 2024: FA TASK REFEREES ON PROFESSIONALISM

The Akwa Ibom State Football Association has charged referees in the state to display high level of professionalism in the 2024 OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP slated for 2nd to 9th of November, 2024 in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital.

The Chairman of the Association, Mr Samuel Umoh who was flanked by his Vice, Mr. Raymond Essien and the Secretary, Comrade Kufre  Etukudo gave the task during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Referees Council in Akwa Ibom State as part of the football association's activities ahead of the championship.

Umoh explained that his leadership will not tolerate any form of unprofessionalism in any competition they organise, stressing that OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP will serve as a litmus test for other tournaments the association is planning to embark on.

" There is nothing like a favoured team in the upcoming Obong Isong ISang memorial academies championship and as such all the Academies deserve fair and professional treatment throughout the championship. We want these academy players to get the right mindset and that cannot be achieved if the referees are not at their best professionally ".

Responding, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State football referees Council, Elder Joseph Bassey and his Secretary Dr. Raphael Inyang, praised the leadership of the football association under Samuel Umoh for being very active and innovative with programs aimed at improving the quality of the game of football in Akwa Ibom state.

Elder Bassey pledge to ensure that referees in Akwa Ibom state remain professional in all their outing by ensuring that they officiate in tandem with the laws of the game and appealed to the football association chairman to aid in making the players and officials of the Academies to be aware of the roles of football and that of the championship.

OBONG ISONG ISANG MEMORIAL ACADEMIES CHAMPIONSHIP: PRIZE MONEY IS READY - FA

Akwa Ibom State Football Association says the prize money for the maiden edition of Obong Isong Isang Academies Memorial Football Championship is ready and will be presented to the winners on the final day of the championship.

The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh stated this when the Association met with some of the Academies that are affiliated with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association and are ready to compete in the Championship slated for 2nd to 9th of November 2024 at the Uyo Township Stadium.

Umoh, reiterate that the board under his leadership will not embark on any project that will not be carried to a successful conclusion with both parties getting what is due them.

The Chairman, sued for more sponsorship for the championship and other activities of the Football Association in Akwa Ibom state, maintaining that the Association will continue to be transparent and accountable in its leadership with the focus on grassroots development, talents discovery and returning football the masses with investors gaining from their investment in football.

It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom State Football Association had begun registration for the Championship on Monday 14th October with a fee of 20 thousand naira and will end on Tuesday 22nd October while late registration with an extra charge of 10 thousand naira will start on 23 October and closed on October 26 2024 so as to make way for the draws slated for 28th October 2024.

The Championship will be played on knockout bases amongst the registered affiliate academies in Akwa Ibom state at the township stadium 

Responding on behalf of the Academies, Coach Matthew Japhet of Full Life football Academy, applauded Mr Samuel Umoh led Association for being very active in football development in Akwa Ibom state immediately after their elections in April this year.

Coach Japhet, thanked the board for restoring the confidence of people investing in football and expressed optimism that more talented players will be brought to lamplight through the championship.

OBONG ISONG ISANG ACADEMIES MEMORIAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: A'IBOM FA PLEDGES FAIRNESS TO ALL

The Akwa Ibom State Football Association (AKSFA),  has pledged to remain open and fair to all the Academies during the 2024 Obong Isong Isang Memorial Football  Championship.

The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh, made the promise in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday during a media briefing to kick off activities for the maiden edition of the championship, stating that the championship is in honour of late Obong Isong Isang and will be a yearly event 

According to the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, registration began on Monday 14th October with a fee of 20 thousand naira and will end on Tuesday 22nd October while late registration with an extra charge of 10 thousand naira will  commence on,  October 23, 2024 and close on October 26 2024 and draws for the Championship is slated for 28th October 2024.

The Championship will run from 2nd Nov,2024 -9th November, 2024 and will be played on knockout bases amongst the registered affiliate Academies in the state at the Uyo Township Stadium.

Also, speaking,Akwa Ibom State referees council represented by it's Secretary, Dr. Rafael Inyang applauded Mr. Samuel Umoh led Board for initiating a football championship which is aimed at harnessing talents in Akwa Ibom state and promised the Association of a rewarding partnership for the success of the tournament.

On his part, the Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, commended the Akwa Ibom State Football Association for honouring the late football legend and administrator, Obong Isong Isang with the championship and appealed for more collaboration for a successful championship which he expressed optimism that this will exposed the abundant football talents in Akwa Ibom State.