Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, on Thursday, received the leadership of the Nasarawa State Football Referees’ Council who was on a courtesy visit in his office in Lafia.
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Joined by Directors of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary, in his welcome address, stated that the visit was unique as the Council plays vital roles in the game of football, both in the State and the country at large.
“On behalf of the Management and Staff of the Ministry, I welcome you warmly to the Ministry.
“Incidentally, this is not an unknown environment to you because some of your members are here with us as staff.
“I have enjoyed a fantastic working relationship with the Chairman and members of the Council. Your Chairman is one of the unseen Management Members of Nasarawa United FC, and this is because you can’t run a Club successfully without having a healthy working relationship with the umpires of the game.
“I am proud of the Council for this courtesy visit to me today. Your roles in football cannot be undermined and you have demonstrated that you are partners in progress, and this is because of the kind of leader you have as your chairman”, Danladi said.
He eulogized the Council for producing personnel, over time, who continue to bring a good image to the State, assuring that the Ministry would work assiduously with the Council to produce world-class referees who would be worthy ambassadors from the grassroots.
The Permanent Secretary further noted that his door and that of the Ministry would continue to be opened for the Referees’ Council in order to attain its goals.
Speaking previously, the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Football Referees’ Council, Isa Mohammed, explained that the purpose of the visit was to congratulate the Permanent Secretary on his deserved appointment by Governor Abdullahi Sule and seek ways of healthy collaboration for the attainment of both Organizations’ collective goals.
“Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment as Permanent Secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry.
“This, indeed, is placing a square peg in a square hole. God has answered our prayers through the Governor who overrode several pressures to appoint one of our own as the accounting officer of the Ministry.
“We know your worth, both in our Council and football in Nigeria because you have supported us immensely.
“With this development, the world knows it’s a new dawn for sports and youth development in Nasarawa State. It’s natural for things to take shape when the right people are brought on board.
“If the head is doing well, the entire body will function well as well.
“We will continue to rally around you and this administration to succeed.”
The visitation team later presented a congratulatory letter to the Permanent Secretary.
