By Yusuf Mutiu Olaitan (Young Sturaro)

In 1977, Brigadier-General Agbasika Innih, arguably, the best Military Administrator in the history of Kwara State, erected, at the time, the best sports edifice in the country, an edifice that houses more than twenty sports which includes; Table Tennis, Tennis, Dart, Judo, Wrestling, Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball, Handball, five aside football pitch and many others.

Since then, the complex has hosted glamorous sports events; National and International events. In 1985, Kwara hosted the National Sports Festival, a multi-sports event, usually organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes throughout the states in Nigeria, and the Indoor Sports Hall which was at the time eight years old was used.

1991 was the year Kwara Indoor Sports Hall was put on the world map. Aside from the fact that the complex hosted two Global events—the World Handball Championship and the World Military Games, the complex was also renovated in 1991. And till now, no renovation has been done on the complex for more than thirty years.

Since then, the complex has continued to be dilapidating, bit by bit, and so, athletes find it difficult at times to play their favorite sports, especially when it rains. It has been that dilapidated. Successive governments did nothing to put the complex in a proper shape, only promises, babbles, and Insha Allah. Nothing meaningful was done, and that’s where Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq comes in! Cometh the man, cometh the hour. Come on, give AA his gold medals!

As an athlete himself, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq understands the positive feelings the massive renovation of Kwara Indoor Sports Hall will bring into the sports fraternity in Kwara. Especially when you know that no sporting activity will be put on hold or stopped during the time of renovation.

Why?, before the proposed renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall, the governor had renovated and built some facilities outside the indoor sports hall for most of the games participated in the hall; say volleyball court, squash court, handball court, and many more. While the renovation goes on, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has provided alternative facilities for our athletes! That’s how to display vision in sports administration!

It’s even more fascinating that work on the facility will begin in no time, going by what Mallam Bola Magaji, the Executive Chairman, of Kwara State Sports Commission said in one of his interviews, that work will begin on the facility in less than two weeks. You just have to give the gold medals to AA.

Renovation of Kwara Indoor Sports Hall is just one of the numerous giant strides of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in the sports sector in Kwara state, remember how he ensured the return of Kwara United Football Club back to the Nigerian Professional Premier League immediately after they had been relegated?

What about the reformation going on at Kwara Football Academy? It will be too quick to forget his commitment to the contingent that represented Kwara at the National Youth Games in Asaba last year where Team Kwara accrued 37 medals and finished 5th in final standing, the best standing for Team Kwara in the history of the event. The re-grassing of the Kwara Main Bowl pitch which ensured Kwara United Football Club is back on home turf after a season out of the state that nearly sent the team to relegation is also one of his numerous strides. Just give the gold medals to AA.

If sports development is turned into an Olympic game amongst governors in Nigeria today, AA must be winning all the gold medals!

Yusuf Mutiu Olaitan alias Young Sturaro is a sports enthusiast and Convener, Play With Kwara Youths. He writes from Ilorin.