The Edo State Football Association (FA) Sunday night honoured Governor Godwin Obaseki of the state and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of football in the state.
Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony, the state FA chairman, Frank Ilaboya, said that the awards were for those who had contributed in one way or the other to the development of sports in the state.
Ilaboya specifically commended Obaseki for reconstructing the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, saying that the gesture had helped to improve the capacity and performance of Edo athletes.
He said that the association resolved not to bother the governor for funding in order to allow the administration to focus on other sectors.
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Responding on behalf of the governor, Shaibu promised that the Obaseki-led administration would continue to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
He described football as big business, saying that the government would do its best to make it private-sector driven for greater success.
He said that the state would soon hold its sports festival to enable budding athletes in thevstate to showcase their talents ahead of the 2020 National Sports Festival. (NAN)