17000 Eket Stadium Reaches Roofing, Cladding stage

Seventeen Thousand (17000) Seater Eket Stadium Construction Reaches Roofing & Cladding Level

The construction of the 17,000 all seater all covered Eket stadium in Akwa ibom state which started a while ago by the Government of Mr udom emmanuel has reached roofing levels.

This month all the 17000 plastic seats for the stadium has arrived uyo the state capital where it is stored.

The artificial pitch has and the tartan tracks material has also arrived.

The ministry of sports akwa ibom state recieved 27 container of materials for installation in the new stadium January 2020.

Mr udom Emmanuel is not just building a stadium in Eket, eket is the second biggest city in Akwa ibom state after uyo, the state capital and ikot Ekpene the Northern district capitals.

Eket has a variety of roads that are being dualize, drainages, city park, modern yiwu Chinese market, the biggest Chinese market in Nigeria is currently under construction in Eket and many more, this project are aimed at repositioning the oil capital of Akwa ibom state to a new level that’s befitting of other oil cities in the world.

The commissioner of sports in the state also intimated that the old 5000 capacity uyo township stadium is also simultaneously upgraded to a 10,000 seater sports stadium to complement the 30,000 seats Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.

Akwa Ibom State is the only State in the country with 2 teams in the Nigerian premier league - AKWA UNITED AND DAKKADA FC.

The state also has several teams in the Nigerian National league which is Nigeria division 2:

Those teams include the ibom youth FC, vandrezzer FC, coffine fC etc and a host of female clubsides.

This stadium’s will serve as befitting homes for some of this teams.

Amuneke Appointed Head Coach Of Misr El-Makasa In Egypt

Former Super Eagles forward Emmanuel Amuneke has been appointed head coach of Egyptian side Misr El-Makasa following the sack of Ahmed Hossam Mido.

Amuneke coached Nigeria’s U17 FIFA World Cup winning team of 2015.

The 49-year-old was appointed head coach of Tanzania in 2018 where he guided them to their first Africa Cup of Nations since 1980.

Amuneke parted ways with Tanzania mutually after a group stage exit at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

El- Makasa are currently lying 15th on the league table with only goals difference separating them away from the relegation zone.

A'Ibom Gets Science, Technology College As AKHA Passes Bill Into Law

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has passed a Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State College of Science and Technology, Nung Ukim, Ikono, into law.

Recall that the Bill which was brought before the House on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, by the Member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, was committed to the House Committee on Education for further legislative action.

Presenting the Committee's Report, the Chairman, House Committee on Education and lead sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Godwin Ekpo noted that the Bill seeks to restructure the school curriculum and provide full time courses of study, training and research in applied sciences, technology, business management and other fields of studies as approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He said the Bill is predicated on the need to actualise the dream of the present administration to provide a College dedicated for the training of middle and higher technical manpower to mainstream industrial development efforts.

The Lawmaker further noted that the Bill also seeks to give backing to the College to access the intervention funds from Federal Donor Agencies such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), UNESCO, PTDF, etc, for its development, as well as facilitating foreign sponsorship, scholarship, partnership and exchange of academic programmes in various field of studies.

The House after receiving and considering the Report at the Committee of the Whole, passed the Bill into Law, with effect from January 1, 2020.

At Plenary also, the House received a Motion on the Proliferation of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Sales Outlets Within Residential Areas in Akwa Ibom State: A Ticking Time Bomb Waiting to Explode, sponsored by the Deputy House Leader and Member representing Etinan State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Denis.

Similarly, four Bills, including A Bill for a Law to Make Provision for the Establishment and Administration of Customary Courts and for Related Matters and A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Professional Counseling to Conduct Qualifying Examinations and Regulate the Counselling Profession for Related Matters, sponsored by the Member representing Ukanafun State Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Charity Ido, were read the first time at Plenary.

Other Bills that scaled through First Reading included A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Neighborhood Safety Corps Agency for the Regulation and Control of the Safety Corps Activities, to Assist Security Agencies in Maintaining Law and Order in Akwa Ibom State and for Connected Purposes sponsored by the Member representing Uyo State Constituency, Hon. Anietie Eka and A Bill for a Law to Protect the Physically Challenged Persons Against Discrimination and Other Purposes Connected Therewith sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and Member representing Okobo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Felisha Bassey.

Gov. Emmanuel Approves N30, 000 Minimum Wage Payment

Akwa Ibom State Governor,  Mr. Udom Emmanuel has approved payment of N30,000 minimum wage with the Federal Government Negotiated Consequential Adjustment Percentages increase with effect from this month.

In a statement issued tonight by the Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, Governor Emmanuel also approved one month arrears of the new salary package to be paid in subsequent months after January.

The one month approved is for December, 2019.

He thanked civil servants for their patience and understanding, expressing the hope that they will reciprocate government's gesture by dedicating themselves to duties for the attainment of the completion agenda of his administration.

Zonal Elimination: Akwa Ibom Cricket Team Outshines Host, Defeat Cross Rivers In Football

Akwa Ibom State representative in the on going South South zonal elimination of the Edo 2020 National sports festival holding in Asaba, Akwa Ibom State defeated host, team Delta State in the female cricket match by 86 runs to 53 runs.

In the same vein, Akwa Ibom State male cricketers walk over team Bayelsa in the first match.

Also, Akwa Ibom female football match with cross river ended goalless, Akwa Ibom still stand a chance of qualifying because the  5 teams present are to play round robin.

On other hand, Akwa Ibom State male team defeated Cross Rivers State 1-0 in the opening match



Meanwhile the host state, has made venues for other competitions public.

 The venues are; football - Mini sports stadium, Ogwashuku. Cricket- St Patrick college. Rugby - St Patrick college.

Others are,Beach volleyball - Anglican Girls college.  Indoor volleyball - Commissioner's quarters. Handball - Stephen Keshi Stadium. Basketball - Stephen Keshi Stadium indoor hall.

National Sports Festival : 200 Akwa Ibom Contingent Battle To Represent South South

By THEOPHILUS UDO

Ahead Of the 2020 Nigeria National Sports festival slated for March to April in Edo State, a contingent of 200 persons departed Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital this morning to Delta State for the Zonal elimination with High level of motivation from the state government.

A break down of the contingent indicates that in the team are one hundred and sixty eight (168) athletes, fourteen (14) coaches seven (7) referees, six (6) Secretaries, three (3) Medical personals and the State head of Coaching and head of organizing.

Addressing the contingent before their departure, the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, charged them to be good ambassador of Akwa Ibom State and their families.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Deaconess Mary Ukoettekoette, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel, for developing Sports in the State and for ensuring that Akwa Ibom State feature in all the seven sports in both male and female categories.

Monday Uko, charged team Akwa Ibom to take descipline as their watch word since they are representing Akwa Ibom State, which he said is generally known for peace and respect to constituted authorities.

He expressed optimism that with the level of motivation given to the participating teams, they will surely emerged victorious at the zonal level and move on to do the zone proud at the Edo 2020 national sports festival

Our correspondent reporting live from West Itam sports center in Uyo the state capital of Akwa Ibom State, hinted that on ground to motivate and task team Akwa Ibom were the permanent Secretary ministry of sports, Deaconess Mary Okoette, the state Director of Sports, coach Lawrence Iquaibom and the member representing Onna state constituency, no Hon. Nse Essien.

Akwa Ibom State in Delta State will be competing in the following sports; Basketball, volleyball, Handball, football,Criket, Beach volleyball and soft Ball

D'Tigres To Camp In Belgrade Ahead Of 2020 Olympic Qualifers

The senior women’s national Basketball  Team will open their 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament camp on Saturday, February 1 in Belgrade.

The team under the tutelage of Otis Hughley will camp for 5 days before they start their campaign against host- Serbia, World Champion- USA and Mozambique with two Olympic tickets on offer.

Elizabeth Balogun with Louisville University may be handed her first national team debut alongside 2019 Zenith Bank Women Basketball League’s  Most Valuable Player, Musa Murjanantu.

Fellow point guard, Sarah Ogoke has since been recalled to the team to replace Upe Atosu.

Other players expected in camp include Italy based Ifunanya Ibekwe, Promise Amukamara (France), Sarah Imovbioh (Belgium) and Spain based Elo Edeferioka
Others include 2019 FIBA Women Afrobasket MVP, Ezinne Kalu, Evelyn Akhator, Aisha Balarabe who just moved to Spain.

Pallas Kunaiyi Akpannah will also join team captain, Adaora Elonu as they prepare for the OQT campaign having missed out of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

In a related development, the head coach of Air Warriors of Abuja, Samson Sotuminu and that of MFM of Lagos, Aderemi Adewunmi will also be on the train to Belgrade as members of the Technical crew.

Their latest appointment came on the backdrop of their heroics last season in the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League.
Sotuminu guided league debutant- Air Warriors to the 2019 title while Adewunmi’s tactical acumen saw MFM snatching a continental ticket after narrowly losing in the final.

Enyimba To Confirm Coach Fatai Osho Permanently If...

Fatai Osho could be handed the Enyimba coaching job on a permanent basis if he continues to post impressive performances, club chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu has hinted.

Osho, who replaced recently sacked Usman Abd’Allah, guided the 2-time African champions to an emphatic 4-1 win against Algerian outfit, Paradou AC in a Match Day 4 CAF Confederation Cup clash in Aba on Sunday, with Stanley Dimgba grabbing a hat-trick in the encounter.

Asked whether the former Remo Stars coach will be made the substantive Technical Adviser of Enyimba, the long-serving administrator said: “The job speaks for itself, we’ve given him (Fatai Osho) the platform and opportunity. It is also left for him to excel.

“We’ll keep supporting him. If he succeeds, it’s already our own success. And we pray that he succeeds.

“But we are not going to dabble into whether he has the opportunity (to become the permanent coach). He has the floor, and it is left for him to use it.

“Our own is to keep supporting him and supporting the team, there is nothing short of that,” he concluded.

After the comprehensive win against Paradou on Sunday, Osho and Enyimba will now shift attention to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), where they face Oriental rivals, Heartland in a Match Day 15 tie in Aba on Wednesday.

The league champions are currently placed 16th (a place above the relegation zone) with 15 points from 10 matches, though with 4 outstanding matches.

A string of poor results, including a 4-0 loss to Plateau United on Match Day 12, led the resign of former coach Abd’Allah.

Abdullah Takes Charge of Wikki Tourist Today As Technical Adviser

A New Technical Adviser has been appointed for Wikki Tourists football club of Buachi.

He is Usman Abdullah Shariff,he replaces Garba Ibrahim who has been redeployed to the Bauchi State Sports Council.

Others appointed are Haruna Abubakar new Goalkeepers Trainer and Dantani Yahaya as Trainor 2.

Other Technical Crew members affected and also redeployed to the sports council  are the Chief Coach Bashir Sale,and Wada Jibrin Trainor  while Bala Mohammed the Goalkeepers Trainer being a contract staff with the club was disengaged.

All appointments are with immediate effect.

The new Technical Adviser is expected to commence training with the team  today 13/1/20 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

NYSC Member Comments Suicide In Kogi State

A serving National Youth Service CorpMember In Kogi State has Commited Suicide

Miss Bolufemi Princess Motunrayo from Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State and a graduate of Banking and Finance, Prince Abubakar Audu University formally called Kogi State University currently a Batch C Youth Corps Member serving in Girls Secondary School, Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South LGA, on 10th of January, 2020 committed suicide with two bottles of Sniper.

Although the major reason of her actions was not known, in  a short note she wrote before committing the  suicide, she said "I did this because I see nothing worth living for in this world".

JAMB Suspens Use Of NIN For 2020 Registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB and suspended the use of the National Identification Number as prerequisite for the registration of the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME.

The Registrar of JAMB Professor Ishaq Oloyede who stated this while briefing newsmen in Abuja said the move was to provide more time for candidates to get their National Identification Number, NIN.

Prof. Oloyede said the suspension was also to address the technical challenges experienced in some centres.

More details soon

ImaBridge Gives More Than 800 Persons Free Health Care In Akwa Ibom

Over 800 people in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, benefited from the free medical missions of ImaBridge Africa.

Ima Bridge Africa, a faith-based charity, has in the past ten years, provided financial and human resources to empower the poor to eradicate extreme poverty, promote gender equality, reduce child and maternal mortality and ensure environmental sustainability, by undertaking projects in the areas of Education, Health, Micro Finance, and Water.

The ImaBridge Africa team, led by Rev. Fr. Nsikan Godwin Ubom, flew into the country a few days ago from Sycamore, Illinois, USA.

The team today evaluated over 800 mixed cases of malaria, typhoid fever, hypertension, diabetes, malnutrition, and eye diseases at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Owot Uta, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Council, and will be moving to other locations to provide same services in the coming days.

ImaBridge Africa had visited Mbo and Ibeno Local Government Areas, a few days ago, to offer medical services to about 1800 people.

This innovative project has delivered early intervention programmes and community-based care, which will, in turn, transform the lives of people living in these communities.

More people are expected to benefit from ImaBridge Africa’s Free Medical Missions as their goal is to raise public awareness, facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid through the donation of medical equipment, supplies, and medications and to improve access to primary care services in Africa.

Nda, Omoyele Set To Join Akwa United, ... Why Akwa United Did Not Attack Against Wikki

The head coach of Akwa United football club of Uyo, Kennedy Boboye, has explained why  he refused to play his normal attacking formation on match day 13 of the Nigeria Profesional league against Wikki Tourist at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium.

Boboye hinted that it was because of the excellent performance of Wikki Tourist in the midfield.

According to him" I  have spotted some problem in the attacking  department of Akwa United and  I will bring in few legs to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

"Already, we have one around now, Olise Nda and by the time we come back from Jos this weekend,we will come with one by name Tosin Omoyele, who just returned from Egypt and is not having playing time with Plateau United"

On his trip to Jos to face  Plateau United in match day 14, Boboye who won the league with the Jos side said he would approach league Ieader, Plateau United with the hope of getting points or at least a point.

Meanwhile Akarandot Orok, Is grateful to God for the improvement in the team and commended Boboye for believing in him and hinted that Akwa United will continue to approach matches as they come.

Orok, expressed optimism ahead of  Plateau United match this weekend

 "The match will be  taken very seriously with the fact that Boboye had been with them while Abdu Maikaba now with Plateau United had coached Akwa United".

Samuel Mathias Declared Missing By Akwa United

The management of Akwa United Football Club wishes to inform the public, especially the football community that one of our players Samuel Mathias is Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) and is hereby declared missing.

Mathias has been away from the team's camp for more than a week without official permission and the club is not aware of his whereabouts.

By this release, Akwa United is placing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and League Management  Company (LMC) on notice. Other clubs should beware please.

Signed:
Mfon Patrick
Media Manager

Ukrainian Flight Crash: 176 People Perished

Ukrainian flight crashes after taking off in Tehran. 176 people dead in Ukrainian Airlines crash in Tehran. #PS752 A

Ukrainian Airlines Boeing 737 plane with 180 people on board crashed after takeoff from Tehran. @flightradar24 data suggests that the crash could have happened only 2 minutes after takeoff.

Airplane passenger nationality of crashed Ukraine International Airline #UIA flight number #PS752
are ;

- Iranian citizens - 71
- Canadian citizens - 73
- German citizens - 4
- UK citizens - 3
- Swedish citizens - 8
- Afghan citizens - 6
- Ukrainian citizens - 15

Why Sadio Mane, Others Emerges Best in Africa

A New page was this evening opened in the annals of the history of football on the continent of Africa with major stakeholders converging at the consecration ground Hurghada in the Pyramid city of Egypt to celebrate their best legs and teams. 

Sadio Mane led the winner's list cupping the 2019 African Footballer of the year ahead of Algeria and Manchester City's talismanic winger Rihad Mahrez who despite winning the treble in England and capping it with an AFCON Title played second fiddle alongside Egypt and Liverpool's Mohammed Salah who came in Second and Third. 

At the 2019 Confederations of African Football (CAF) Awards Ceremony, Morocco and Dortmund Star Achraf Hakimi confirmed his place in history beating back efforts from Super Eagles Super Stars Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal and Lille's Victor Osimhen to win the African Youth Player of the year. 

His exploits with Dortmund has attracted other top clubs in the World like Barcelona, Real Madrid amongst others. 

Super Falcons and FC Barcelona Femeni Striker Asisat Oshoala has won the African Women’s Player of the Year for the fourth time.

Asisat Oshoala, won  shrugged off competition from South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana and Ajara Nchout of Cameroon to clinch the women African Footballer of the year for award for the fourth time.

Ajara marshaled Cameroon's charge at the 2019 Women World Cup in France scoring 2 goals capping it with 16 goals for Valerenga. 

South African Coach Desiree Ellis shrugged off stiff competition from Nigeria's Coach Thomas Dennerby and Alain Djeumfa of Cameroon to win the African Women's Coach of the year. 

Other winners include 

Algeria- African Men's team of the Year. 

Cameroon- African Women's team of the year.

Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)- Men's Coach of the Year.

FIFPro African Best XI #CAFAwards2019 

🇨🇲 André Onana

🇲🇦 Achraf Hakimi

🇸🇳 Kalidou Koulibaly

🇨🇲 Joel Matip

🇨🇮 Serge Aurier

🇩🇿 Riyad Mahrez

🇸🇳 Idrissa Gueye

🇲🇦 Hakim Ziyech

🇸🇳 Sadio Mané

🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah

🇬🇦 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

 TP Mazembe's Moise Katumbi- African Club President of the Year award. 

Best Football Federation- Egypt