Kwara State Director of Sports, Mallam Ibrahim Alarape Atanda has commended the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the role he played during the Council’s trying period, following the demise of late Coach Bello Abdulrafiu Oyebanji.
Late Coach Bello, who was also Africa’s Number One Para-Badminton player died in a motor accident along Ogbomoso-Oyo Express way, on his way back to Ilorin from Lagos, where he has gone for a travelling visa to Spain for Olympic qualifiers.
Speaking after the Fidau prayer organised by the Council in conjunction with the Kwara Badminton Veterans, Mallam Atanda also commended the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Frank Obih, who came in person, and also delivered the messages of Badminton World President, Badminton Confederation of Africa and that of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare.
Mallam Atanda said that the solidarity, through visits, messages and calls has given the Council and the family of late Bello a large heart with which to contain the pressure of Bello’s shocking and sudden death.
He equally thanked Kwara Badminton Veterans for their support and show of great concern to the Council and Bello’s family.
Mallam Alarape thanked the Ministry of Sports ànd Youth Development, the Special Assistant on Sports, Mallam Attahiru Ibrahim, staffers of the Council, all the sports bodies in the state, friends and well wishers for their roles during and after the trying period.
Meanwhile, the Director of Sports, Mallam Ibrahim Alarape Atanda has thanked the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for approving his substantive appointment as Director, Kwara State Sports Council.
Mallam Alarape was, in a letter dated April 19, 2021, and signed by Yahaya Wood, confirmed as substantive Director of Sports.
He was appointed on July 1, 2020 as the Acting Director of Sports, and the letter stated that the substantive appointment was on merit.
