The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Gusau has praised Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State for his commitment to the development of sports in the State.
Gusau stated this on Friday, while presenting the Governor, with the 2024 Man of the Year award, at the Awards and Gala Night organised by the Benue State Football Association (BSFA), during its celebration of 48 years of timeless legacy, at the Bongos Ikwe Entertainment Centre in Makurdi, the state capital.
He said, “Your Excellency, your revival of the abandoned Governor Cup competition and also the award of contract for the renovation of the Aper Aku stadium Makurdi are remarkable achievements and you have written your name in gold”.
The NFF president further said that after the completion of the ongoing work at the stadium, it would not only return Lobi Stars FC to play their matches at home but also host national and international matches as well as stimulate local economy for the benefit of the State.
Receiving the award, Governor Hyacinth Alia who was represented at the ceremony by his Chief of Staff, Rt Hon Paul Biam, assured that, “my administration will continue to support and engage the youths meaningfully by organising sports programmes in order to check idleness”.
The Governor commended the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau for his show of love for Benue State and the BSFA for their commitment to the development of football in the state.
“I want to call on the good people of the State, to join hands with me so that we can all together build a Benue State of our dreams,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of BSFA, Dr Paul Edeh said that the contract for the renovation of the Aper Aku stadium was awarded two years ago but was neglected.
According to him, it was when governor Alia came on board as the governor that attention was given to it and work will soon be completed.
He commended the governor for reviving the Governor’s Cup competition which had not been played for almost a decade and also thanked the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, Hon Terkimbi Ikyange for not interfering in football management and for his purposeful policy direction.
The BSFA Chairman expressed appreciation to the NFF President for his leadership styles which had made football management easy in the country and appealed to him to also do for the female teams at the national level just as the BSFA was doing.
The Voice reports that others who also received awards at the event included the Deputy Governor, Dr Sam Odeh, NFF president, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Chief Mrs Margaret Icheen, Dr Iorngulum Malu and Francisca Ordega.
The Speaker of the BSHA, Hon Aondoana Dajoh, Elder Francis Ejiga, Solomon Andii, Margaret Aku, Dr Phillip Nongu, Alex Awuna, Akoo Andii, the Ter Makurdi and the Benue State University, were also among the recipients.
