Commissioner of Youth Affairs in Gombe State, Malam Farouk Yarma has showed his gratitude to organizers of the Arewa Sports Personality Award Association (ASPAA) for the honour bestowed on him.
The administrator received an honourary award for Grassroots Sports Development at an event held in Kano on Saturday night.
The former Executive Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission took to the Social Media to express his joy.
“I’m deeply honoured to be recognised for my little contribution to sports development. The award given to me by Arewa Sports Personality Awards Association (ASPAA) in its maiden Award Night has warmed my heart and I would like to appreciate the organisers for finding me worthy of this award for Grassroots Sports Development in Gombe State. This award will certainly reenergise me to continue to support sports and youth development, not only in my state, but in the country as a whole,” he wrote via Social Media.
“I would like to most sincerely thank those who travelled from Gombe to witness the occasion. Your show of love and concern can never be quantified, I appreciate you all and pray that you will all return home safely. The same appreciation goes to the numerous people that sent congratulations and goodwill messages via social media, text messages and phone calls. Officials and players of FC Yarmalight were also in Kano to witness the event, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
The Proprietor of Yarmalight dedicated the award to Gombe State Governor, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.
“I would like to dedicate this award to His Excellency the people’s Governor, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON (Talban Gombe) for giving me the enabling environment to contribute my quota to the development of sports and youth in Gombe State. His Exvellency has given me the thrust to raise from grass to grace. Thank you so much, this award is for you, Sir.”
“Finally, I would like to urge other associations to emulate from ASPAA in encouraging sports men and women in Northern Nigeria. Sports is the most potent unifying factor we have, let’s encourage those participating in sports development so that this unifying factor will be sustained.”
Sports reporters and correspondents from Print, Television and Radio stations across the North were also awarded for their reportage of sporting activities in the North.
