NAN-S-6
Football
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 16, 2017 (NAN) The first edition of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Male Football Competition got underway at the Federal College of Education (FCE) in Zaria, Kaduna State on Saturday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the competition, the NCCE Executive Secretary, Prof. Bappa Aliyu-Muhammadu, said the essence of the competition was to strengthen relationship amongst the country’s Colleges of Education.
Aliyu-Muhammadu, who was represented by the commission’s Director of Physical Planning, Achumie Jonathan, promised to extend the competition’s sponsorship to other sports events.
“The competition in the nearest future will cover other segments of sports, while the female players too will be engaged to give them a sense of belonging,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden edition of the competition was organised and sponsored by the NCCE Executive Secretary.
In his speech at the occasion, the Provost of FCE Zaria, Dr Ango Ladan, lauded the choice of the college for the competition’s maiden edition.
He said FCE Zaria, being the first College of Education in Nigeria, was known for its passion for sports, and it had participated in sports competitions at various levels.
Ladan assured the participants that the college had made adequate preparation to ensure a hitch-free contest.
“Do not panic. Instead, you should feel free and fully utilise the hospitality of the Zaria people,’’ he said.
The Chairperson of the competition’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), Jummai Suleiman, said the competition emanated from a successful outing at the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA) in Jos last year.
Suleiman, who was represented by the Vice-Chairperson and Director, Finance and Supply, Mr Janah Obasi, said the completion was meant to promote unity, synergy, friendship and cultural exchange among the colleges.
“These are to develop a catalyst for mental and physical fitness of staff of NCCE and Colleges of Education, to promote image of the commission and to create a forum for interaction and association,’’ Suleiman, who is the commission’s Director of Personnel Management, said.
While warning the participating colleges not to use students in the competition, the chairperson also cautioned them against hiring mercenaries from outside the colleges’ environment.
NAN reports that about 10 Colleges of Education from different parts of the country are participating in the competition.
The opening match, which featured FCE Zaria and FCE Eha Amupu in Enugu State, ended 4-0 in favour of the hosts.(NAN)
KLM/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)