Sport:Ex NFF board member, Suleiman Kwande takes over Plateau FA chairmanship….vow to revive grassroot, female football
By Daniel Agada, Jos
A former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Hon.Suleiman Yahaya Kwande have emerged chairman of Plateau State Football Association (PFA).
Suleiman Kwande who was a Lawmaker representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, served as executive board member of NFF for a period of almost 12 years.
While declaring the election results which held at Mees Palace Rayfield Jos on Thursday, chairman of the NFF electoral committee, Barr. Dan Gwaza said, ” having satisfied with the process of the accreditation of delegates and voting, I hereby declared Suleiman Yahaya Kwande as the winner of the chairmanship position of PFA 2023 elections.”
Our correspondent reports that, 24 delegates voted in the election that saw the emergence of Suleiman Kwande unopposed.
Speaking alongside other executive members of PFA after taking the oath of office and certificate of return, Kwande said they will use football as a means of nurturing young talents in Plateau.
“There is no way in my capacity having been served as a Lawmaker and NFF board member and now coming to this assignment I did not do well.
“My aim is to make sure Plateau State Football Association flourish, and we want to ensure that young talents from secondary school students, women football should be my cardinal point.
“Female football is now a big business, if you noticed all the premier club in Nigeria have been given a matching order that they must have a female team and that would be my cardinal point.I want to make sure that we have them from local government to the state level.
“I want to run an inclusive government, making sure that all the local government chairmen and stakeholders, SWAN, were carry alone so that we can achieved our objective
“We’re going to confirm a honorary title for all the previous chairmen of PFA and also constitutes forum of elders advisory council. Be rest assured were here to change the narrative of football administration in Plateau”, Kwande mentioned.
NFF executive board and chairman Borno football association, Babagana Kalid revealed, “we are here just to observed the process of the election and to make sure that the election is conducted in line with the NFF, Confederation of African Football, CAF and FIFA electoral guideline.
“Of course, the election is absolutely in line with such provision. We have been here since on Wednesday 18th October, 2023, together with the director of affiliation, so we sat down with the norminalization committee and the electoral committee chairman both we have checked the process and were okay with it.”
Our correspondent also reports that, other PFA board members elected to run a three years tenure includes 1st and 2nd vice chairman from each zone.
From southern Plateau those were elected are; Godfrey Ayuba, Salisu Anani. Central zone includes; Ezra Godit Simon, Salish Shuaibu Muhammad, while from Northern zone has; Ajiji Ibrahim and Jonah Maren Mafulul as John Maren Nuhu emerged chairman of chairmen.
