Commissioner seeks partnership with referees to develop football in Nasarawa State

By Amaechi Agbo

Hon. Jibril Ibrahim, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, has called on the State’s Football Referees’ Council to partner with the Ministry to advance football development in the State.

He disclosed this while playing host to the State Executive Members of the Council in his office in Lafia, earlier on Thursday.

He expressed gratitude to the Council for the solidarity and goodwill, emphasizing the State Government’s resolve under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule to reposition sports as a veritable tool for youth engagement, talent discovery, and socio-economic development.

The Commissioner assured the Referees of his Ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for improved officiating, continuous capacity building, and better welfare packages.

He urged the Council to uphold the ethics of the game and serve as worthy ambassadors of fairness and integrity on and off the pitch.

Earlier, the Chairman of the State Football Referees’ Council, Isah Mohammed, congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment, describing it as well-deserved and a proof to Governor Abdullahi Sule’s commitment to placing round pegs in round holes.

He noted that the Council is optimistic that under the Commissioner’s leadership, officiating standards, welfare of referees, and grassroots football development in Nasarawa State will receive renewed attention and support.

Isah further pledged the Council’s unalloyed readiness to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure transparency, discipline, and professionalism in football officiating across the State.

He presented a letter of congratulations to the Commissioner on behalf of the Council.

Joining the Commissioner to receive the visitors were the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Stephen Iliya Sasetu, Directors and Senior Staff of the Ministry.