A member of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Coordinator for the South-South zone of the body, Mr. Emmanuel Ibah, is dead.
According to NewsOne Nigeria family sources confirmed to the NFF that Ibah, who was also Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Football Association, gave up the ghost on Tuesday morning at age 61 after battling complications from COVID-19.
A statement published on the official NFF website said the late top NFF board member was said to have underlying diabetic and hypertensive medical conditions.
According to the statement, eulogizing Ibah, as an energetic figure who showed intense dedication and commitment to the work of the NFF and Nigeria Football.
The statement said Ibah was also Chairman of the NFF Protocols and Ceremonial Committee and Vice Chairman of both the establishment and Referees Committees.
Amaju Melvin Pinnick, in a heartfelt message, wrote: “I am just lost for words. I don’t know what to say. This has been a tragic year on so many fronts. Emmanuel Ibah was like a brother. He was my colleague from the South-South on the NFF Executive Committee and a very loyal and supportive person. We have lost another pillar on the Board. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
The passing of Emmanuel Ibah makes him the third member of the NFF Executive Committee and the fourth key figure in the NFF to die this year. He was predeceased by Member from the South East, Chidi Ofo Okenwa who died on 5th May, and Musa Adamu Duhu who passed on 19th September. NFF’s Head of ICT, Tolulope Abe died on 29th August.
Emmanuel Augustine Ibah was born 5 September 1959 and hails from Urua Akpan area of Akwa Ibom State. He became a Member of the NFF Executive Committee after winning an election at the last NFF Elective Congress in Katsina on 18 September 2018.