The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf has received a replica trophy for a tournament organised in his honor.
This is contained in a press statement signed and made available to newsmen by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed.
Receiving the trophy in Lokoja, the speaker expressed gratitude to the organizers and dedicated the entire tournament to members of the State House of Assembly, for whom he said hold its essence.
He said the reason for his decision to throw his weight behind the organizers was because of the value sport holds in his heart.
As a former football player, he said he understands the passion with which young people follow the sport, stressing that at a period where insecurity threatens to overrun many communities, the sector is a good panacea for addressing the challenges.
He assured the public that the present administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo was working round the clock to revamp the Confluence Stadium to return it to its former glory as an edifice for talent hunt and exhibition.
Speaking earlier, the organizer of the event, Mr McPherson Dele said the decision to organize the event was to use it as an avenue for grooming talents.
He said naming the tournament after the Speaker was fitting in view of Rt. Hon. Umar’s legislative acumen, his passion for youth development, his dirve to ensure the entire state was productive and his continued humble disposition, attributes that have endeared him to all.
On his part, the member representing Bassa State Constituency and Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Sport, Hon Sunday Daku, thanked the organizers for finding the Speaker worthy of naming the tournament after, stressing that there is hardly a better person for the honour.