Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Monday unveiled brand new kits that are sponsored by the West African Cotton Company (WACOT), owners of WACOT Rice Company, Argungu for the Kebbi Beach Soccer Team who recently won the Nigerian Beach Soccer league last July.
The Kebbi Fishers as they are popularly known are currently ranked No.1 in African and 49 globally by Beach Soccer Worldwide under FIFA, Bagudu’s spokesman Yahaya Sarki said in a statement.
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The company is also bankrolling the participation of the team in the forthcoming International Beach Soccer Tourney in Europe, as Africa’s flagbearers.
Bagudu unveiled the kits, as well as received the trophies won by the team after they emerged as Nigerian Champions in Kaduna recently.
The Chairman of the APC Governors Forum expressed delight that the Kebbi Chairman and African Beach Soccer Union President, Mahmud Hadejia has led the team well who are making Nigeria and Africa proud.
He said: “Since four years ago in Copa Lagos 2017, the team has demonstrated what is possible. The team has been ceaselessly blossoming .
” These tangible giant strides by the team could not have been possible without the invaluable support of so many stakeholders and the Ministry of sports.
“The immeasurable gestures of WACOT led by one of Nigeria’s most brilliant and patriotic Technocrats led by Alh. Farouk Gumel is really very doing well and deserve commendation.
“Another untiring pillar for the Kebbi Beach Soccer Team is Her Excellency, Dr Zainab Atiku Bagudu, the wife of the Governor. “
The Kebbi State Governor also expressed optimism that the team will do Nigeria and Africa proud in the next World Club Championship.
While commending the team, Bagudu stated , ” to whom much is given, much is however expected .”
Bagudu pledged increased funding for the team with the support of the State House of Assembly.
He recalled that the state government had trained fifteen youths at the Kwara state Sports Academy in Ilorin.
“One of them is Zaidu Sanusi Jega now a member of Nigerian Super Eagles player with FC Porto, Portugal.
He had earlier acknowledged that the firm has since keyed into the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari”s food program aimed at bolstering domestic food security, as well as reducing imports and boosting exports.
Bagudu further said that WACOT has shown how home grown solutions could be achieved to solve Nigeria’s recurring challeges .
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of WACOT, Hon. Faruk Gumel lauded Bagudu for his sustained support to the firm.
He vowed to continue to strive to remain domestically and internationally competitive, just as more would be done to further develop Kebbi State .
Gumel also stated that the company was supporting the team as part of its corporate social responsibilities initiatives.
The Secretary of the team, Abdullahi Yahaya commended Bagudu for his fatherly support to it, saying,” this is the secret to our successes.
“We also remain eternally grateful to Her Excellency, Dr Zainab Bagudu for her motherly support to us.
“We will continue to justify the tremendous confidence reposed on us locally in Nigeria, in Africa and across the World.”
He said earlier that, the Kebbi Beach Soccer team defeated Kaduna, Lagos, Anambra and Kwara to emerge as the country’s Champions.
Abdullahi extolled the team”s achievement recorded in just six years of its creation as Nigeria’s Champions and African leaders.
While presenting the two trophies won by the Kebbi Beach Soccer team to the Governor during the Kebbi Beach Soccer league and Nigeria Beach Soccer league, he commended WACOT Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Gumel especially for the sponsorship to represent the country.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Herve Achi Yeboua Koffi, who accompanied the WACOT team for investment collaboration, commended governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for being a true Nigerian, a country he considered a great nation from what he and his team have seen during their arrival.
“Your country is a great nation with smart people coming from different ethnic groups. Nigeria from all indications is no doubt the richest country in Africa”, he said.
He observed that with diverse businesses in Nigeria and the brotherly posture of the country to other African countries Nigeria is truly justified to be the richest country in Africa.
He noted that Nigeria’s business activities with the ECOWAS countries has helped to boost their domestic economy and there was a lot his country and other West African nations could benefit from partnering with Nigeria.
The Hon Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Gidado Bello Kaliel, thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his unrelenting commitment to sports development in the state.
He also commended WACOT for what he described as laudable Corporate Social responsibility aimed at developing the youths through sports.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, rtd Col. Samail Yombe Dabai, Speaker ,Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Muhammad Sani Abubakar Lolo, Members of Kebbi State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff Government House Birnin Kebbi, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, (Jarman Kabi), the SSG, Babale Umar Yauri, Commissioners, Special Advisers , officials from Ministry of Youths and Sports Development led by the Commissioner, Gidado Bello Kaliel were among important governments functionaries who attended the historic occasion.
