The Board of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia which was recently reconstituted by the state Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti OFR, has been inaugurated with a charge on the Board members to abide strictly by the terms of their appointment and avoid any form of conflict with the management of the club.
The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwabilor Ananaba who was speaking at the inauguration which took place in his office in Umuahia, further charged the members to work closely with the club chairman and maintain open and regular communication in order to ensure effective governance and success in line with Governor Otti’s desire of building a new Abia State.
The Sports Commissioner reminded the Board members that they were carefully selected by the Governor based on their experience in football management and urged them to live up to expectations and ensure smooth operation of the club.
“Consequently, job descriptions have been carefully crafted and attached to your appointment letters for your respective study as a guide”, he said.
Sir Ananaba also noted that Abia State has produced many footballers who have made Nigeria proud and emphasized the need to sustain the tempo
“Abia State is on record as one of the States in the country that has produced a lot of professional footballers who have at one time or another flown our national flag so high globally. The tempo must be kept. We must not diminish. Our collective ingenuity and mastery are needed for us to keep flying the flag of competence and productivity.”
The Sports Commissioner also stressed the need to make sports a lucrative venture for the State.
“It is public knowledge that sports of whatever kind has become a very serious and lucrative business. We must take decisive steps to ensure that the state does not only spend but also gain from sports through, the sale of players, contracts, friendly matches, sale of match tickets etc.”
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club Coach John Obuh thanked the Governor of Abia State for the appointments which, he noted, was in line with FIFA standard and also charged the appointed board members to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the club.
Highlight of the event which was attended by who is who in sports circle in Abia State including the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports and Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Chinedu Ekeke, the Chairman Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia Chief Boniface Alozie Uche, the Abia State acting Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, the Chairman, Youth Sports Federation Of Nigeria( YSFON), Abia State, Sir Uchenna Dike among others, was the the taking of oath of office and signing of their appointment letters by the Board members which included:
1. James Agbagha Ochunkwo
2. Francis Obinna Nwaubani(Secretary)
3. Nwoke Chibuzor Emmanuel
4. Anokwuru Dennis Chinonye
5. Nwokocha Charles Agwu
6. Ukaegbu Herbert Okoronkwo
7. Okezie Chimezie
8. Francis Chibuike Chilaka
9. Emeka Nwanna
Source/Abia Warriors Media.
