The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, has pledged to dedicate a percentage of the total value of government contracts in the state to youth and sports development if elected Governor.
Hon. Zakari made the commitment while featuring on the SWAN Hard Talk programme held at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Centre, Ilorin, where he outlined his vision for repositioning sports as a major instrument for youth engagement, talent development, employment creation and the fight against social vices.
The former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and the state’s first Special Assistant on Sports said his administration would give sports a prominent place in its development agenda, describing the sector as a veritable tool for engaging young people and addressing insecurity.
“My administration, if elected, will overhaul sports in the state. Sports, under our party, ADC, will be a top priority. We will use sports as a platform for youth engagement, to tackle insecurity and check social vices.
“We are also going to invest in sports infrastructure. We will partner with the Local Government Councils and relevant stakeholders because government alone cannot do it. We may also involve legislation where necessary.”
As part of his proposed sports infrastructure programme, Hon. Zakari said his administration would establish a Sports Village in the state and construct mini stadia in each of the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara.
He explained that the proposed investment would not be limited to physical infrastructure, stressing the need to build a sustainable sports ecosystem capable of discovering talents, nurturing them and providing pathways for professional development.
Hon. Zakari, who hails from the Gure, Baruten axis of Kwara State, also pointed to his previous experience in the state’s sports administration as an advantage in implementing his proposed agenda.
According to him, his involvement in the development of Kwara sports at different levels has given him an understanding of both the achievements and challenges confronting the sector.
“I am part of the success story of Kwara and Kwara sports, as a former Special Assistant on Sports and former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, as well as Commissioner for Energy.
“What I did in the state in sports was value addition. I have the experience, and I understand where we are coming from. We can use our past records to shape the future.”
The ADC candidate also called for a comprehensive restructuring of Kwara United Football Club, saying the club should be developed beyond its traditional role as a football team into a commercially viable sports brand.
Hon Zakari, who once played a role in the administration of Kwara United, said the club should be repositioned to maximise opportunities in commercial partnerships, merchandising, branding and other revenue-generating activities.
He argued that a modern football club should have structures capable of generating independent revenue rather than relying predominantly on government funding.
His contribution to the state’s football development, he noted, also included his role in the establishment of the Kwara Football Academy, which he described as part of the foundation for developing young football talents in the state.
He pledged that, if given the mandate, his administration would move swiftly to implement its sports development agenda, with particular emphasis on grassroots development, sports infrastructure, youth engagement and the creation of sustainable opportunities for athletes and sports practitioners.
He said his experience in sports administration would enable him to hit the ground running and build on existing structures while introducing new initiatives aimed at restoring sports to a central position in Kwara’s youth development strategy.
