At a Dinner hosted by the outgone Executive Committee of the Coalition of NGOs in Sokoto State, held yesterday, 21st day of January, 2023, the newly elected members of the Executive Committee of the Coalition were sworn in and inaugurated in a colourful ceremony attended by top government functionalities, security chiefs, donor agencies and international partners in the state.
ASATTAHIR International Foundation, as a major stakeholder in development work in the state was represented by its Founder and Chairman Board of Trustees, Aliyu Sidi Attahiru and the Executive Secretary, Prof. Yahaya Tanko Baba.
The dinner was a culmination of a transition program that produced a new set of Executive Committee members of CONSS through broad consultations and concensus among the diverse groups that constitute the umbrella body of CSOs, NGOs and CBOs in the state. As an affair of one family, dedicated to the progress, livelihood and development of the people of Sokoto state, the electoral process was seamless and hitch-free.
The top dignitaries that graced the ceremony include the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Muhammad Mainasara Ahmad, mni, the Head of the Sokoto state Civil Service, Alh. Abubakar Muhammad Dan Shehu, mni, Alh. Hassan Muhammad Maccido, Commissioner of Budget & Economic Planning, the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Sokoto state, Hajiya Ubaida Muhammad Bello, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto state, Alh. Muhammad Hussaini Gumel, Mr. Fatai A. Olawowu, Asst. Director of the Department of State Security in Sokoto state, Dr. Nura Ali, Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission in Sokoto state, Alh. Ahmadu Bello, Asst. Director, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sokoto Zonal Office, Alh. Usman Arzika, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning among other government functionaries. Others include representatives of donor organisations and international partners such as Dr. Udman Arrashid, State Tram.Lead IHP, Mr. Dean Shingu, CGL, Alh. Musa Wamakko,Director International Cooperation and State Focal Person, EU ACT as well as Interparty Advisory Council represented by Alh. Abba Sidi.
The ceremony featured remarks by dignitaries, who congratulated the entire membership of CONSS for holding a seamless transition and particularly the outgone members of the Executive Committee for their contributions to the development of the state in many repects. The Secretary to the state government, the Head of the Civil Service as well as the Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning all commended the milestone reached by the umbrella platform of the CSOs, NGOs and CBOs in the state and assured the newly elected members of the Executive Committee of the government’s unparalleled support in their bid to attract funding for development projects and in their commitment to hold the government accountable through advocacy, enlightenment, pressure cooking and indeed partnership and collaboration to move the state forward.
The State Commissioner of Police and the Resident Electoral Commissioner all reiterated their commitment to support CONSS and its members to work together on security and Electoral matters for the general well-being of the people in the state. As partners for development in the state, donor agencies also congratulated both the outgone EXCO members and the newly sworn in EXCO members and promised to continue to work with the CSOs in the state to actualize their mandates in different spheres of human development.
The outgone Chairman of CONSS, Ibrahim Abdullahi Shuni recounted the achievements recorded during his stewardship and applauded the state government for showing understanding and commitment to the course of development in the state. He argued that the state has been acting cooperatively with the CSOs, which led to the enactment of many pro-people laws such as the Child Protection Law, the Procurement Law, the Tax Law among other many laws and policies influenced by the CSOs for improved livelihood of the people.
The Oath of Office was delivered to the newly elected members of the Executive Committee of CONSS by the Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) , Sokoto state Chapter, Barrister Rashida Mohammed an active member of CONSS and the Legal Adviser of ASATTAHIR International Foundation as well as Principal Partner of Rashida Mohammed & Co (Rahma Law Chambers).
Soon after the delivery of the Oath of Office and the Inauguration of the new EXCO, the newly elected Chairman of CONSS, Bello Shehu Gwadabawa expressed gratitude to the Electoral Committee and the outgone EXCO for their due diligence in the conduct of the long awaited transition. He reiterated his commitment and that of his EXCO members of inclusiveness, integrity, due diligence and mobilization of the people for the course of development in Sokoto state. He emphasised the important roles of government and its agencies in development process and pledged to continue to work with government where necessary and hold it accountable if need be, for the realisation of the collective aspirations of the development stakeholders in the state
The ceremony was rounded off with dinning and exchange of pleasantries among diverse groups of people that were in attendance. Many people also posed for group photographs, particularly the dignitaries and the outgone and the newly inaugurated Executive Committee members of CONSS.
