By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Commissioner of Sports Development Kaduna State, Idris Nyam on Wednesday, said that the state has a very rich and robust sports culture which now spans over a century of recorded history with the establishment of the Kaduna Golf Club in the year 1921.
Idris Nyam stated this at the presentation of Kaduna State’s winning athletes and teams to Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai at the Government House in Kaduna
The Commissioner said: the purpose of the gathering is to present the winning athletes and sports teams who made the state proud both locally.and internationally at sporting competitions.
While explaining, he said, “these young men and women have shown commitment to their craft and displayed the quality and potentials for building professional careers out of their sports, from Kaduna State.
He said, “the purpose of this presentation therefore, is simply to among other things, spotlight and encourage the efforts of these individuals and use them as examples to their peers in less desirable indulgences, on the opportunities and possibilities available, when one embraces the path of sincerity, hard work, persistence, and commitment.
“Kaduna State has continued to achieve major milestones in sports, as demonstrated in the commissioning of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in 1965, being the second oldest stadium in Nigeria.
“Kaduna State has hosted several national and international competitions such as the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 1999, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009, several National Sports Festivals, and in 2020, the first Kaduna International Marathon.
“Similarly, Kaduna State has produced several professional sportsmen and women, highlighting career successes both locally and internationally.
“In football, we have names such as Sadiq Umar, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi, Macauley Chrisantus, Celestine Babayaro, Garba Lawal, Tijjani Babangida, Rashidi Yekini and Stephen Musa.
” Maryam Usman is an Olympian bronze medalist; Scott Nnaji, Ujiri Masai, and Mohammed Tijjani are notable names in basketball.
“Samaila Usman and Grace Ayuba featured in Cycling. This is to mention but a few of the several people who have emanated from Kaduna State and made impact in the world of sports.
“The young persons presented have won laurels for Kaduna State in national and international championships in the year 2021 and 2022.
“These athletes have demonstrated the highest levels of sportsmanship, professionalism, state-patriotism and good ambassadorship in their various fields of play.
“The teams presented are:- The Kada Stars Hockey Team: They represented the State at the Nigerian Hockey Super League Championship held from the 21st to the 4th of November 202, where they won.
“They also represented the state at the African Cup for Clubs Championship held in Accra, Ghana from the 17th of November to the 3rd of December 2021, where they came third in Africa.
“It is worthy of mention that a bulk of this team (10 male players and 9 female players) formed the National Team which won bronze medal at the African Hockey Nations Cup 2022.
“The State Cricket Team: This team participated in the Nigeria National Cricket League Series 2021/2022 which they have now won for a record 3 consecutive times. They also represented the State and Nation at the International Uganda League Tour (Series) 2021, which they equally won.
“The Volleyball Team: Your Excellency, this team won the 2021 National Volleyball Division 1 League. They have now qualified for this year’s Volleyball Premier League.
“The Basketball Team: This team won bronze medal in the Mark D. Ball Women Basketball Championship 2022 held at Abuja in January.
“The individual games winners presented here are:- Chess: Adejoh Joshua won gold and silver medals at the IGP Open Championship held at Lekki, Lagos State in November 2021.
-“Badminton: Suleiman Abubakar and Jaafar Umar won gold and silver medals respectively at the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly Open Championship for Northern States, held in January this year.
“Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing: Moses Joseph won silver and bronze medals at the Admiral Porbeni National Boat Race held at Jabi Lake, Abuja in February this year.
“Judo: The State Judo association participated in the National Judo Trials Championship held at Lagos in February this year, securing 2 silver medals. Similarly, it participated in the Alh. Ibrahim Galadima Judo Championship at Kano in October 2021, where it secured 1 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
“Karate: In Karate, the State participated in the 7th edition of the Hajiya Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship, Lagos, held in October 2021, where a Gold medal was won by Yunurallah Abdul-Rasheed.
“The state was also represented at the just concluded First Japanese Ambassador Karate Tournament at Abuja, where 1 bronze medal was won in the individual Kata and Team Kata respectively.
“In athletics, the state participated in the National School games Final held at Abuja in March this year, recording a stunning win of 5 gold medals, 8 silvers, and 7 bronzes, placing the State in third place nationally,” he explained.
He however said, “the state is currently participating in the First National Para-Sports Festival holding at Abuja.
“Representing the state is a contingent of 99 athletes performing in Sitting Volleyball, Deaf Football, Para-athletics, Para Soccer, Power Lifting, Para-badminton, and Table Tennis.”
The Commissioner noted that so far, they have recorded a gold medal win in the female para athletics 200m bicycle race, a silver, and a bronze medal in the 200m bicycle race, bronze medals in the class 6 to 7, and 8 to 9 category of Tennis, Silver medal in the Para-badminton men’s doubles, and bronze in the para-badminton singles,
Speaking further, he said, “the Ministry of Sports Development continues to strive to sustain and progressively improve the landscape for sports development in the state.
“Guided by our mandate, we have made significant progress in grassroot sports and community participation, amateur/indigenous sports development, schools sports, and professional sports practice. We have also begun, as a critical factor, the promotion of private sector led initiatives and sports as a business. These, we are doing with the partnership with the private sector, and the 42 Sports Associations in the state covering a vast array of sport types.”
Idris said, “It is worthy of mention that we are currently in the process of formulating a State’s Sports Development Policy, which is guided by the State Development Plan (2021-2025) and the UNESCO Charter on Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports.”
He spoke on the vision, “The vision of the policy is to make Kaduna State the most viable in Nigeria for the sports industry, with full citizen participation and industry attractiveness for investment and pursuit of a professional career, providing a variety of industry-centered social and economic opportunities for all. We will soon be submitting a memo to Your Excellency in this regard.”
While speaking on successes and challenges, he said, “the succeses that the sports sector in Kaduna State has recorded on the field has not been without challenges.
“These challenges range from delayed cash backings to outright cancellations of activities due to the non-release of funds. These not only critical affected the ability of the Ministry to fully deliver on its mandate, but also direly hampered the morale of the sports men and women who are the principal actors in the state’s sports ecosystem.”
He expressed sincere appreciation to the Governor of Kaduna State, the Deputy Governor, and colleagues and sister MDAs for the support and understanding accorded the ministry and indeed the larger sports sector in the State.
“We will continue to count on your guidance and collaboration as we drive the sports forward towards achieving greater milestones,” he assured.
