To commemorate its second anniversary, the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All, GIFA, on Sunday, February 8, 2026, hosted a friendly football match between the Commissioners and Special Advisers' Wives Association, COSAWA, and the Association of Local Governments Vice Chairmen, ALGOVC, adding colour and excitement to the build-up to the celebration slated for February 20, 2026.
Speaking at the event which took place at the Uyo Township Stadium, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady and Chairman, Board of Trustees of GIFA, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, said the essence of the match was to promote unity, wellness, and camaraderie among partners and stakeholders of the initiative.
“I for one, have had fun because that was the goal of this match. It was a friendly match just to come out, sit back, have fun and enjoy this exciting Sunday afternoon,” Lady Obareki said, while commending both teams for their sportsmanship and commitment.
She appreciated the players from COSAWA and ALGOVC for honouring GIFA’s invitation and dedicating time to training ahead of the match, noting that their participation had contributed significantly to the event's success.
Reiterating the friendly nature of the encounter, the GIFA Boss who congratulated COSAWA for emerging as the winners after a 1:0 win against AGLOVC, noted that the aim of fostering goodwill and easing tension, had been achieved.
Lady Obareki recalled that the friendly match tradition began during GIFA’s first anniversary celebration, adding that it was deliberately adopted as an annual activity to commemorate the organisation’s milestones, expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to host the match again as GIFA approaches its second anniversary.
She thanked partners, friends and sponsors who turned out to support the event, describing their presence as a strong show of solidarity for GIFA, announcing that the prizes for the two teams would be formally presented during GIFA’s second anniversary celebration scheduled to hold on February 20, 2026, at Ibom Hall by 10:00 a.m.
Lady Obareki extended an invitation to all participants and supporters to attend the anniversary celebration and expressed optimism that the friendly match would remain a yearly feature of GIFA’s anniversary activities, noting that the initiative looks forward to organising another edition as it marks its third anniversary in 2027.
The visibly elated President and Captain of Team COSAWA, Dr Bright Archibong, expressed excitement over their 1:0 victory, secured by the wife of the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Emem Anieti Udofia, in the first half of the encounter, applauding Lady Obareki for upholding the legacies of her mother.
The GIFA 2nd anniversary friendly match was a closely fought contest, with the ALGOVC side putting up a spirited display, mounting stiff resistance and maintaining a disciplined defensive shape that neutralised several attacking moves from the more adventurous COSAWA side. They however lost several attempts at scoring.
Among those who were at the Uyo Township Stadium to cheer the two teams, were the wife of the Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs Enobong Edidem, wife of the Secretary to the State Government Dr Inemesit Uwah, the wife of former military Governor Mrs Funmi Nkanga, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and social welfare Hon. Inibehe Silas and other commissioners, Local Government Chairmen, winners of the first anniversary match - WALGON, led by the President Mrs Akaninyene Udo and members of LEWA, the Comptroller Nigeria Immigration Service Agatha Odika, among others.
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