*Governor AbdulRazaq “talks little, speaks easy and acts big” – Hameed Adio
Discussions and appraisals on sports development in Kwara State took centre stage on Thursday December 18, 2025, to celebrate Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s six years of commitment to youth and sports development, with selected individuals who are supporting the cause, rewarded.
The stage was set by the Kwara state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), through a personality lecture organised in honour of the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq .
The lecture, themed “Six Years of Purposeful Leadership: Rebuilding Institutions, Empowering Athletes and Positioning Kwara for Sports Excellence,” focused on the administration’s commitment to institutional reforms, youth development and sports excellence.
It was a gathering that afforded the Governor to rẹ-affirm his support for sports development in all ramifications, with a charge to end users of the facilities constructed and renovated to cultivate and sustain maintainance culture, and to fully support the sector.
Mallam AbdulRazaq said that the developments being witnessed in the sports sector in the state reflects the broader achievements of his administration across all other sectors.
Mallam AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, said it is the collective responsibility of all Kwarans to properly maintain facilities provided by the government.
He explained that the present administration has constructed modern sports infrastructure at the state stadium, noting that the facilities are durable and designed to serve the state for decades, appealing to end users to regard government property as their own and protect it from misuse or vandalism.
He also urged residents to create and sustain attitudes towards the maintenance of public facilities to ensure sustainability.
He commended SWAN for its unflinching sports reportage and consistent efforts in promoting sports development in the state through collaboration with the government.
He described the association as a partner in progress, adding that the media remains a critical stakeholder in the growth and development of sports in Kwara State.
In her goodwill message, the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Rukayat Shittu, expressed pride in being a Kwaran, describing the Governor’s achievements in sports development as commendable.
She assured that the House of Assembly would continue to support the executive arm of government through policies and legislation aimed at advancing sports development in the state.
Hon. Shittu also congratulated Kwara SWAN for using its platforms to project government’s programmes and urged the association to sustain the tempo, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transforming sports in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Magaji commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what he described as six years of transformative contributions to the development of sports in the state.
Magaji, who represented by his Secretary, Aron Haruna Tsado said that the period has witnessed significant progress in athlete development, sports infrastructure, and community engagement, noting that sports have been strategically positioned as a tool for social development and unity.
According to him, “the state has recorded notable improvements in nurturing young talents, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging grassroots participation, which have collectively strengthened Kwara’s sports culture.
“Our efforts over the past six years have yielded results, including improved performances on the international stage, increased grassroots participation, and a renewed appreciation of sports as a platform for personal growth and national pride,” Mogaji said.
He emphasized that beyond medals and trophies, the administration has succeeded in building a sports community that values discipline, teamwork, and excellence.
Looking ahead, the Sports Commission Chairman urged stakeholders to sustain investment in youth development, provide continued support for athletes, and embrace innovation in sports administration to further enhance the sector.
Mallam Magaji also lauded the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), for its consistent role in publicizing sports activities and promoting athletes in the state.
“The efforts and sacrifices of Kwara SWAN in projecting sports activities do not go unnoticed and are deeply appreciated,” he added.
He commended all individuals and organizations who have contributed to the growth of sports in the state, calling for renewed commitment to pushing boundaries and inspiring greater achievements in the years ahead.
Veteran sports administrator and analyst, Hameed Adio, delivered an incisive lecture on the achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the sector, to celebrate the ocassion.
Speaking before an audience of sports journalists, administrators and stakeholders, Adio described sports as a powerful tool for youth engagement, unity and economic empowerment, stressing that the AbdulRazaq administration has deliberately positioned the sector as a key pillar of human capital development in the state.
Adio noted that one of the most visible achievements of the Governor is the renewed attention to sports infrastructure, particularly the gradual revival and upgrading of facilities within the Kwara State Stadium Complex.
According to him, the restoration of critical facilities and improved maintenance culture have helped reposition Ilorin to host competitive matches and programmes after years of decline.
He also highlighted the administrative stability enjoyed by Kwara United Football Club, attributing it to government support, improved funding and respect for institutional frameworks. Adio said the enabling environment created by the state government has allowed the club to focus on performance, youth integration and professionalism, culminating in historic milestones that have raised Kwara’s profile on the national football scene.
The lecturer further applauded the government’s support for grassroots sports, citing increased encouragement for school sports, local competitions and collaboration with private organisers and sports associations. He explained that such initiatives have widened the talent pool, given young athletes platforms to showcase their abilities and rekindled public interest in sports across the state.
Adio commended Governor AbdulRazaq for promoting inclusive sports development, noting the administration’s openness to partnerships with sports stakeholders, journalists and development agencies. He stressed that sustained dialogue with the media, particularly SWAN, has helped in projecting Kwara positively and ensuring accountability in sports governance.
Hameed Adio, an Olympian, while tracing the history of sports development in the state, described Mallam AbdulRazaq as a Governor who “talks little, speaks easy and acts big”, adding that the Governor ushered in a new era in sports development through the introduction of the Sports Commission, which not only replaced the Sports Council, but broadened the scope of growth and uplift of sports.
In his remarks, the SWAN Chairman, Ayodeji Ismail thanked Hameed Adio for what he described as a “timely and enlightening lecture,” adding that the association remains committed to objective reportage, advocacy and constructive engagement that will further drive sports growth in Kwara State.
“This topic “Six Years of Purposeful Leadership: Rebuilding Institutions, Empowering Athletes, and Positioning Kwara for Sports Excellence.” was carefully selected to highlight the unwavering and unprecedented milestones recorded under the leadership of His Excellency across the sports sector. These achievements cut across infrastructure development, athlete empowerment, institutional rebuilding, and the global repositioning of Kwara State sports.
He said that the programme was also designed to recognise and celebrate distinguished personalities who have consistently deployed their hard-earned resources towards advancing sports development through donations, sponsorships, and direct support not only to athletes but also to the media.
“Kwara SWAN remains resolute in its commitment to advancing sports development through objective, responsible, and professional reportage. With or without criticism, our role as watchdogs of society remains vital in ensuring the effective implementation of government policies and programmes, in line with global best practices.
Engr. Araba Femi Sanni, Chairman/CEO of Flow FM and Chief Executive Officer of Stefolga Group, AVM Oluwatoyin Lanre Ibrahim, Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, the General Manager of Radio Kwara, Alhaji Kayode Aremu and other head of Media Houses and Alhaji Olatunji Mohammed Elado all got awards of recognition, for their contributions to sports development and to SWAN.
Ayodeji added that Kwara SWAN will continue to work closely with stakeholders and sports administrators to ensure that Kwara State becomes a hub of sports development and a centre of attraction, due to the conducive environment provided by the present administration, particularly through infrastructural development, including the newly upgraded indoor sports hall now ready for use.
In his own goodwill message, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oluwatoyin Lanre Ibrahim traced his journey into the Nigerian Military to his deep-rooted passion for sports, which began during his childhood, when he often sneaked out to the stadium to watch matches.
He jokingly described himself as a fan of English Premier League giants Manchester United, while his local club allegiance remains Kwara United. He noted that this passion was evident in his unwavering financial support and encouragement for the players and officials of Kwara United during last season’s President Federation Cup in Lagos.
While appreciating Kwara SWAN and sports fans for the honour, AVM Oluwatoyin reaffirmed his commitment to the advancement of sports development in Kwara State and beyond.
Also, the Chairman of the Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa, widely known as Thuraya emphasized that proper maintenance of stadium infrastructure is critical to ensuring its long-term sustainability and effective future use.
According to Thuraya, “the responsibility of maintaining sports facilities should not be left to the government alone, stressing that collective ownership and proper care of the stadium edifices would help preserve the huge investments made by the Kwara State Government.
“Maintenance is everybody’s business. When we protect and properly use these facilities, it will go a long way in justifying the funds expended by the state government on sports infrastructure,” he said.
Mallam Thuraya added that ongoing renovation works at the stadium would yield maximum benefits if complemented with a strong maintenance culture among users and administrators of the facilities.
The programme ended with a call on stakeholders to sustain support for policies and programmes that deepen sports development, with a charge to journalists to continue playing their watchdog and agenda-setting roles in ensuring that sports remains a viable tool for youth empowerment and state branding.
