Umbrella Civil Society Group Commends Gov Emmanuel On Composition Of Public Procurement Council

By Ememobong Okon

An umbrella body for Civil Society Organizations in the State, Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Organizations forum, has expressed appreciation to the State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, for the recent appointment of one of their members, Mr. Harry Udoh, as a member of the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Council.

In a press statement issued by the group's head of media and publicity, Mr. Kingsley Atang and made available to newsmen on Monday, the group described the appointment of Mr. Udoh as deliberate, noting that the inclusion of civil society representation in the council, demonstrates strong political will to replace corruption, opacity and inefficiency with a regime of openness, especially in the area of public contacting.

"we are confident that Akwa Ibom State has just taken one of the fist steps towards joining the league of jurisdictions across the globe that are embracing open contracting for more efficient and effective public service delivery.

"Oftentimes, dearth of financial resources and political interference have been known to hamper the work of otherwise well-intentioned government initiatives.

"we therefore call on the State government to provide the council with the institutional resources and political space to fulfill its mandate.

"once again, we salute the Akwa Ibom State Government for its goodwill and ongoing partnership with Civil Society and affirm the forum's commitment to work with government to achieve the stipulated objectives of the Akwa Ibom State public procurement law 2019." the statement read.

It would be recalled that last week, Governor Emmanuel inuagugurated the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Council, with Mr. Harry Udoh, as the representative of civil society groups in the State.

Mr. Harry, a development expert with about 30 years cognate experience, has been in the forefront of advocating for  meaningful development of the State and the nation at large.

In an interaction with our reporter, Mr. Udoh, while appreciating the State Governor for the appointment, said, "With His Excellency, Udom Emmanuel's assent to the Public Procurement law and the prompt inauguration of the Public Procurement Council, the governor has laid the bulwark for transparency, accountability and good governance in the state.

" This also indicates the good intent of government for proper management of the state's resources. "

Hon. Anthony Etim Advocates Steadfastness in Hosting Akwa Ibom Youth Sports Festival

The Akwa Ibom State Weightlifting Association chairman, Pastor Antony Etim has advocated for the persistent hosting of the Akwa Ibom State Youths Sports Festival, saying that the festival has  immensely resulted in the discovery of talents  in various sports.

Etim who also doubles as the local government chairman of Oron made the advocacy while interacting with the state exercutive members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) led by Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, in Uyo.

Pastor Etim who is a  former, footballer, Javelin thrower and a weightlifter explained that the advent of the Akwa Ibom Youth Sports Festival brought about the discovery of young talents like Edidiong in weightlifting, Imaobong in track, Idara in Boxing amongst others who could have been found wanting in the streets without knowing the potentials in them.

He appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for  according  sports   and youth  development  a priority in his administration and extolled the governor for affording him and other  members of the association   the opportunity to serve on board and contribute to the development of sports in the state.

While hinting that the  State Weightlifting Association is  determined to make the state proud in the sports at all levels, he said so far,  the state lifters have won 49 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals in the National Sports Festivals, while in the  National Youth Sports Festival, Akwa Ibom did not take the rare as it  clinched 12 gold 11 silver and 12 bronze medals as well.

The chairman mentioned some of the weightlifters which helped the state to scoop the  laurels at  competitions to include: Edidiong Umofia, Uwana Peter,Namsifon Ekanem, Theresa Okon amongst others, whom he believed will go ahead to represent Nigeria in Olympic  having excelled in Africa and International championships.

He hinted that soon after the association was inaugurated a meeting of the board was convenned followed with a visit to the Uyo Township Stadium to assess facilities for training of weightlifters, adding that for positive results in the game it was pertinent to have a  standard training facility which he provided one of the best weightlifting platforms for the athletes training.

The chairman listed other attainments of the association to include: organizing a reception for weightlifters who participated at the Jigawa  State Weightlifting Competition and preparation of weightlifters for the postponed Edo National Sports Festival.

He also said that arrangement  was made to stage Oro Nation Youth  Weightlifting Tournament but was postponed due to the emergence of Coronavirus Disease , which according to him will still hold after the pandemic.

 According to him, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria ( ALGON) was  desirous to present youths from the 31 local government areas for weightlifting competition so as to harness talents in the sport.

Etim,  expressed readiness of the association to partner SWAN towards the  development of Weightlifting in the  state.

It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom state youth sports festival held only twice with the third edition failing to hold in 2019, no thanks to political activities of 2019 in the state.

Meet Aminu Kurfi Balele : The Game Changer Who Is Leaving Footprints In The Sand Of Time

The story of Nigeria football cannot be complete without a mention of Alhaji Aminu kurfi Balele, the fast rising football administrator whose records on and off the pitch is gradually dwarfing the achievements of many who have spent over two decades in the corridors of football with virtually nothing to show for it.

As senior special adviser to the former executive governor of Katsina state Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, Balele who was also a former chairman of Katsina united, is the brain behind the rising profile of Katsina United as one of the emerging super powers of Nigeria football

His deep administrative manoeuvrings around the football circle helped to lift the Changi boys from their comfort zone in the NNL to the Nigeria professional football league, NPFL, after they finished as league leaders in the 2016 season before going on to win the NNL Super 4 competition, a result that catapulted them to the Apex league in the country.

Known for his forthrightness, admired for his doggedness and respected for his resilience, Dan Arewa as he is fondly called by his admirers is gradually winning souls from all sectors of the sporting fraternity. Many remember with excitement, the role he played in turning Katsina United into a brand that is now talked about, not only in Nigeria but in the whole of Africa.

He was the brain behind the quick completion of the Muhammadu Dikko stadium in Katsina state and used his influence to get the Golden Eaglets camped in Katsina on their way to winning the 2015 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Chile.

That in itself, was a landmark achievement that will remain indelible in the hearts of the good people of Katsina state for years to come.

This easy going and very unassuming administrator, guided the Under-15 team of Katsina United to back to back finals of the LMC/NPFL Under-15 features and was also on hand to guide Katsina feeders to the quarter final of the AITEO Cup. All these achievements came without anyone blowing his trumpet.

In 2018, Aminu Kurfi once again applied his administrative ingenuity by single handedly convincing the executive governor of Katsina state, his excellency, Aminu Bello Masari to host the NFF Extraordinary congress.

This happened at a time when Nigeria football was groaning in the mud of crisis and uncertainty.

Katsina state government hosted over five hundred football stakeholders, among them, 44 delegates, in what turned out the best organised NFF Election ever held in the history of Association football in Nigeria.

This was the first time in the history of NFF elections that the winners and losers shook hands in agreement that the process was indeed very free and fair.

Despite his goodwill, this man has his few regrets as the NFF have failed to fulfil two key promises made to the Katsina state government on the eve of the 2018 election.

Firstly, they promised to build the first FA secretariate in the Katsina state capital and secondly, they made a special promise to the emir of Daura, Faruk Umar Faruk, that they will bring one of the FIFA Goal projects assigned to Nigeria, to the home of president Mohammadu Buhari.

 Both promises have not been met till date as there are no assurances of any sort from the eggheads in the football house.

Balele is not deterred by these setbacks, as he has continued to contribute his quota to the development of football in the state and Nigeria in general.

Voted Katsina state FA chairman in 2019, this erodite and immensely intelligent politician who is well respected by the government and people of Katsina state for his rising profile as a key stakeholder in Nigeria football, was at the forefront of Nigeria's participation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia where he helped Nigeria football federation officials and fans to sort out important logistics before and during the competition.

He also singlehandedly secured Max Airline for the NFF to help airlift the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Sfax for a crucial world cup qualifier with Libya in October 2018,  and later Maseru for the return leg of a double header with Lesotho just last year.

He is the peace maker, a man who has continued to preach peace among football stakeholders. His philanthropic hand has touched the young and old in all the villages and towns of Katsina state and environs. He has touched lives and has not stopped doing his best in helping humanity.

 Loved by the media, appreciated by the footballers, respected by club owners and other stakeholders and adored by the fans, Aminu Kurfi will always be remembered as the man who discovered the jewel or Katsina United, the pride of the Changi boys and a player that all football lovers in the state will love to call their beloved, he is Destiny Ashadi or better still, the Katsina Diamond.