A statement by Amb. Eche Amos
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity of Youth Assembly Of Nigeria (YAN), said the novelty football match sponsored by a non-governmental organization, Maikaya Development Foundation, (MDF), in honour of its new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amb. Shuaibu Sani.
The game was between third tier league side, Akwanga Selected FC versus Ciroma FC of Toto, all in Nasarawa State.
In the action-packed game decided at the Central Pilot Primary School Football Field, Akwanga Selected were awarded a penalty half an hour into the game after one of their players, George, was hacked down in the box. The resultant kick was converted by Abdul to put them in the lead.
Few minutes later, the visitors from Toto equalized from the spot through Salisu after also benefiting from a similar circumstance that gave their hosts the lead, to end the first-half 1-1 apiece.
The second-half, however, did not make any difference for either side as the referee blew the final whistle to the admiration of the celebrant and the retinue of his wellwishers and fans who had come to watch the game.
In his remarks, the celebrant, Rt. Hon. Amb. Shuaibu Sani, expressed joy and satisfaction for the success of the programme and the support given to him.
“My profound gratitude goes to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development of Nasarawa State, Hon. Othman Bala Adam, who is ably represented here by the SSA to the Governor on Youth and Sports, Hon. Haruna Kasimu Idris, the State’s leadership of YAN under Hon. Jaafar M. Loko, State’s leadership of the Nigerian Youth Congress(NYC), represented by its Secretary, Ibrahim Abogye and its Northern Zone Coordinator, Benjamin Ewuga; Management of Option Radio headed by Boniface Abraham, and other dignitaries too numerous to mention for their immense support and solidarity.”
He thanked the sponsor and leadership of the Maikaya Development Foundation, led by its Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed Musa(Mai Kayan Ciroma Toto) for the honour done to him.
“I appreciate His Excellency for this onerous gesture done to me.”
The YAN Speaker equally used the occasion to reveal his leadership’s plans for youth and sports development in the country.
“However, as leaders of the 3rd Republic of YAN, we are not going to take this assignment given to us with levity. We are going to do our utmost best to ensure that we touch the lives of the Nigerian youths positively.
“The era of lamentation is over. We believe we will engage the Government at all levels diplomatically and otherwise, in order to give us what rightfully belongs to us, because whatever is meant for us, but without us, is not for us”, he reiterated.
Shuaibu Sani was inaugurated as the 3rd Republic Speaker of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria, YAN, on Wednesday, last week, along with other States’ and FCT, Abuja’s Ambassadors, by Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State at Ta’al Conference Hotel, Lafia, and will serve a tenure of four years in office.
