On Monday in Abuja, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development inaugurated a 13-man caretaker committee to oversee the business of the Nigerian Badminton Federation (BFN).
Ismailia Abubakar, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said the committee will be in place pending the resolution of all issues plaguing the Federation during the inauguration ceremony.
He went on to say that in order to move the sport ahead, the badminton organization needed to establish a caretaker committee.
BFN was one of the federations which did not hold their board elections during the Sept. 30 National Sports Federation Elections.
In the BFN case, a pending court case prevented the elections from holding.
Kenneth Aguine, a former badminton international, had on behalf of a group, Concerned Badminton Stakeholders, accused BFN’s immediate-past president, Francis Orbih, of manipulating the zonal aspect of the elections.
He had also alleged that Orbih, who was the then Caretaker Committee Chairman of the federation, failed to resign appropriately before the elections.
“Badminton must move with other sports and that is the reason we deemed it fit to inaugurate the caretaker committee.
“We are hereby charging you (the members) to sensitise every member of the badminton family to the need to move the federation forward,” Abubakar said while inaugurating the committee which however has Orbih as its chairman.
Orbih, after the inauguration, said the action taken by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development was a very positive development for the growth of the game.
He appreciated the minister and assured that the committee would work assiduously towards ensuring they consolidated on the good work done by the immediate-past board.
Other members of the committee are Maina Mohammed, Solaja Obiageli, Yusuf Bello, Shehu Warah, Tangbe Awala, Tunde Kazeem, George Shitta, Etuku Tenimu, Esther Gidado, Malik Anas, Yahaya Yusuf and Grace Gabriel.
Akewusola said that the meeting which had in attendance built environment stakeholders from states and federal agencies as well as the private sector would help evolve strategies towards bridging infrastructure gap nationwide.
“Over last year, we have had different challenges especially with the pandemic so it is important that we come up with ways to help in boosting the economy and providing employment.
“Housing development is second to none in calibrating both individual and the national economy as it helps in stimulating the economy.
“Housing can help in creating jobs as the process in building would serve as a spring ball in providing labour for several people involved and this in turn, would develop the economy.
“We are committed in ensuring that we improve the lives of everyone and this meeting would help in achieving that,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary appealed for synergy between agencies and organisation to achieve greater results.
“All organisations must ensure that they work together as a unit so things can go smoothly with little or no hindrance when it comes to carrying out projects under their supervision,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Olajide Ode-Martins, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing said that the meeting would proffer solutions to long standing issues and the recommendations needed.
“Long lasting solutions would be provided so as to get long lasting results,” he said.
Mr Augustin Okwudiafor, an environmental expert, said that building materials should be sourced from accredited distributors to guarantee quality and durable construction to avert building collapse.
“The use of sub standard materials in building is usually gotten from unauthorized distributors, so we must join hands and prevent this from happening,” he said.
Miss Edimam Okodi-Iyah, Advisor, Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) advised Nigerians to use environment friendly materials in building houses to conserve energy, water, and reduce carbon footprints for healthier living.
“The regular blocks used in constructing buildings are strong but they have the tendency to retain heat thereby making the building hot.
“Using the right building materials would help in living in a more conducive environment and there would be less need for air conditioners so we advise people to always use environment friendly materials during construction
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