Senator Sadiq pledges commitment to sports development, thanks Gov AbdulRazaq

 

The Senator representing Kwara North at the Red Chambers, Senator Sulaiman Sadiq Umar has reiterated his resolve to continue to impact on sports and youth development in the state, even as he praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for investing in the sector.

While addressing members of the Kwara United Football Club Supporters Club and Fans Club who paid him a thank you visit in his house in Ilorin yesterday Wednesday August 6, 2025, the Senator, fondly being addressed as 3SU equally congratulated the Governor, for the numerous achievements recorded in sports, especially the President Federation Cup trophy won by Kwara United Football Club.

3SU described the Supporters and Fans as the nerve centre that gives the team the required energy which has continued to propel the team to greater heights.

“Your roles as Supporters and Fans of the club is crucial and pivotal to the team in their quest to achieve success. You are the nerve centre that gives the team the required energy to survive, and win laurels.

“Government cannot do all these alone. We shall continue to play our complementary roles and responsibilities in line with the aspirations of the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRazaq, CON, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum”, he said.

“I will not relent in supporting sports and youth development, especially our team, Kwara United Football Club.

Earlier in their addresses, the Chairman of Kwara United Supporters Club, Waheed Saliu Obe and the Chairman of the Fans Club, Tajudeen Osoogun thank Governor AbdulRazaq for supporting the team. They also commended the Senator for his complementary roles, which, according to them, was crucial to Kwara United's success.

The duo, on behalf of their members, equally thanked the Kwara FA Chairman, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa Thuraya, for his encouragement.

The two groups appreciated and presented awards of excellence to the Senator.

In his opening address, the Chairman of Kwara FA, Thuraya commended the commitment and sacrifice of the Supporters and Fans Club, while he christened the Senator as a silent achiever.

He detailed some of his numerous contributions to include motivation to the players throughout the season, especially at the crucial stage of the season, production of branded jerseys and track suits and replicas for the players and fans, and other groups, which included the FA members throughout the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

Kwara United: The records, breakthroughs, prospects

 

By Jimoh Bashir

For Kwara United Football Club in the present dispensation, it's about records, memorable moments and positivity, in the face of multiple challenges. It is also about historical moments and remarkable feats, in a journey which was laced with interesting shows and intrigues.

It's all about results, performances and the quest for uplift, far and above existing records.

Performances in sports is relatively calculated on the premise of results and impacts, positively, especially in consonance with general anticipation and aspirations, irrespective of the internal and external forces pushed forward by environmental factors.

For Kwara United in the last four seasons, the fulfilment would be that of graduation from pessimism to optimism in virtually all aspects, because of the records already created, records already broken and the achievements, which arguably can be measured within a given period of time. 

All these realizations defines the progresses made within the last four seasons, which is Kwara United's longest stretch of stay in the elite league since its venture into that circle in 1998.

The longest stretch of stay before now was after Kwara United gained promotion to the NPFL from one of its numerous sojourn in the NNL in 2008/2009 season. The team came first in the NNL then to return to the elite league, and stayed for three seasons, and got relegated again, alongside city rivals, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Ilorin Football Club, in the 2012/2013 season.

Kwara United defeated Nasarawa United by a lone goal on Sunday May 7th, 2023, at the Akure Township Stadium, against all odds, and that result guaranteed that the team retains its Premier League status, making it four seasons consecutively, the first time the club would achieve this feat.

It is worthy of note that this feat was achieved despite playing an all-round away matches in the 2022/2023 NPFL Abridged League, considering the huge challenge of doing so, made it all important and worth celebrating. The pitch of the Main-Bowl of its traditional home, Kwara State Stadium Complex is being re-grassed. It’s a risk well taken, and sacrifices well made in achieving the unthinkable.

Kwara United, after preparations to participate in the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the 2019/2020 season, got elevated through Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's magnanimity, as he approved the taking over of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) space of the then Delta Force, after the Delta based team had played ten matches in the NPFL season. 

The team however, had a rough season, but escaped relegation.

Kwara United, under the Chairmanship of Kumbi Titiloye ended the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons in the fourth positions on the log, and were, owing to acceptable arrangements as contained in the rule book, given a continental slot, as it campaigned in the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup competition, losing out at the preliminary stage to the then defending champions, RS Berkane of Morocco. 

The team defeated the Moroccan side 3-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, and lost the return leg 2-0. They had earlier dusted AS Douanes of Niger Republic out of the competition clinically, after a three goal aggregate scores.

From the 2020/2021 seasons, especially on the backdrop of the experiences learnt from the 2019/2020 season, Kwara United rose to absolute greatness from the path of uncertainty. 

Rose from playing with pessimism to playing with optimism, with hope and absolute flair, from playing without aspirations to playing with hope, and from just playing to playing with purposefulness and determination.

The team would have ended the 2020/2021 season in the second position, with 65 points, and plus 20 goals difference.

However, the outcome of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at its meeting held on August 5th, 2021, as it concerns Matchday 34 fixture played on 21th July, 2021 at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna State, between Jigawa Golden Stars FC and Rivers United FC changed that narrative.

Rivers United FC had protested against the fielding of a player, Richard Christopher (Jersey number 8) by Jigawa Golden Stars FC in the match, on the grounds of ineligibility, having accumulated five (5) yellow cards during the season.

The NFF decision stated that Jigawa Golden Stars FC shall forfeit 3 points and 3 goals to Rivers United FC in respect of the match, for fielding an ineligible player in breach of C5 of the NPFL Rules.

The Appeal Committee of the NFF, few days later, adopted the ruling of the Disciplinary Committee, which therefore, placed Rivers United in the second position of the table, pushing Kwara United to the fourth position.

The club recorded remarkable successes in the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. Some of the achievements included ending the first round of the season on top of the table.

The team did not lose any match at home for three consecutive seasons, and this feat had been achieved by the club for a very long time. And for the first time in several seasons, they did not fight relegation, as was the feature before now, except for the ongoing season, for obvious reasons.

Kwara United FC were rated as one of the best playing teams, and were adjudged as a surprise package of the NPFL by the stakeholders, especially considering previous outings. Of the 20 NPFL teams for the 2020/21 NPFL season, Kwara United usually parades the youngest squads, with about 12 U-17 players registered for the NPFL in the period under review.

The successes recorded so far can also be traced to the unity and friendly atmosphere in and around the team, and this averted the curse that ‘each year had led from bad to worse’ which people see as a common aphorism. 

The narratives have no doubt, changed, and can also be sustained with the arrangements on ground with the team.

For Kwara United FC under the current management, it’s been a campaign of purposefulness, laced with professionalism, which has brought a huge difference and a great departure from the past.

Just like every other season before now, objectives were drawn, targets set, aspirations kept, and hopes hinged on many variables, which importantly has to do with the caliber of players engaged, and the capacity of the technical bench.

The new found status has continued to bring more positive exploits for the team, especially as the management is expected to build on the positives recorded, while finding solution to the negative ones.

Also in the period under review, Kwara United have numerous of its players invited to the national teams, the U-17, U-20, U-23 and the home based Super Eagles.

The Club’s medical system was upgraded and ranks among the best so far, as players get rapid attention in cases of injuries or illnesses. The club also ranks among the best in observing Covid-19 protocols, as spelt out and adopted by the NFF and LMC. All these variables have strengthened its welfare system.

Going down memory lane, Kwara United first played in the CAF inter-club competition in 1999/2000 season, losing out in the quarter-finals to Zamalek of Egypt.

In 2006/2007 season, the club came first in Group A of an Abridged League, with 34 points, and ended up in third position after the Super Four played in Abuja. Ocean Boys won the Super Four, and joined second placed team to represent Nigeria in the Champions League, while Kwara United played in the Confederations Cup for coming third.

And 15 years after, the team was back in the continent after the 2021/2022 season, despite finishing fourth on the 2021/2022 NPFL table, just to beat the CAF registration deadline, as the Aiteo Cup was not concluded on time. The team gave good account of itself in the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

The last four seasons will also go down in history as the best in terms of cordial relationship among the various components of stakeholders, because of the professional way things were being done. The Supporters and Fans Club also worked together to complement the efforts of the management, players and officials.

For the first time in many years, that unity and togetherness was evidenced in the way Kwarans supported the team against Nasarawa United in the Matchday 17 of the ongoing season in Akure. The support was tremendous, not only because of the placement of the team on the table then, but to sustain the philosophy as enshrined by the founding fathers, and being sustained by the management.

The support of the Kwara State government is key and instrumental to the new found status of the team, which is arguably one of the symbols of unity for the state.

Before now, just like it was easy for the team to go on relegation, so was it easy to change management even at the slightest record of a single game loss. That obviously gave room for inconsistency in the club’s campaign in the league, as the so called aggrieved stakeholders always undermine support for the team getting good results even at home.

Apart from engaging tested players, the team also recruited more Kwara players, to compensate for the yearnings of Kwarans to have more indigenes in the team. This was also extended to the technical crew, as Coach Abdullahi Biffo was engaged to champion the cause of the team, spending three seasons in charge. Coach Abdulazeez Mohammed had a brief stay, before another Kwaran, Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo, who is a traditional Chief in Ilorin, the Mogaji of Odo-Okun took over.

 These are part of the ingredients that have continued to add value to the team, and which, the management will never compromise. 

The hopes and prospect of achieving more successes and also breaking new grounds are high. The very first major accomplishment that metamorphosed into the present characteristics known of the club has to do with investment in recruitments. Another very important factor that assisted the club’s cause was the prompt payment of salaries and allowances to the players and officials, even during Covid-19 period when there was no football action and the league was on break.

Indeed, for Kwara United, its a period of positive records and breakthroughs, as well as the period of great prospect, under Kumbi Titiloye, a Sports Promoter and Marketer. Kumbi is an excellent facilitator and solution provider, and a seasoned Administrator.

Under Titiloye, the rebuilding and rebranding processes of Kwara United Football Club is being geared towards meeting the required pedestal for business opportunities, away from the usual social services. It’s also coming at a time the government is desperately seeking to find alternative financial windows to push the club to the next level.

For his professionalism and transparency, Kwara United secured the partnership of Dickalo and 22Bet. These are partnerships that will obviously open more doors of possibilities and opportunities for the club soonest. Equally, a million dollar sponsorship arrangement is in the works with Reachat of USA, and will commence soonest.

The team lost out of this year's Federation Cup competition at the quarter-final stage, after losing by a lone goal to Plateau United FC. The team had earlier beaten Gateway FC (2-1), Ikorodu City (3-1) and Nasarawa United (1-0) before reaching that stage.

With the level of works done on the pitch of the Main-Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium Complex so far, Fans, Supporters, stakeholders and lovers of the club are guaranteed of watching their team again, at home, at their traditional ground, and it will be part of the celebration of having the team retain its NPFL status, despite the multiple challenges, and a renewed target for the new season, with a renewed hope for the darling team of the state.

PDP's loss in Kwara poll, signs of nemesis - APC chieftain

 

A chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Kwara chapter, Alhaji Kayode Adams fondly called Cooler has said nemesis is catching up with Kwara PDP as it is evident that a greater percentage of the Kwara electorates are tired of the Saraki political egemony as displayed during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, where their candidates were randomly and resoundingly defeated by the APC. 

 In this interview with our Editor, the Ebodaniyan born politician said re-electing Mall.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq would consolidate the numerous achievements witnesses in the last four years, saying the governor has the capacity and track record to do more. 

Adams added that there is no basis for comparism between AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's led government with the 16 years prodigy and arrogant reign of Bukola Saraki's administration in kwara,  alluding to the fact that the governor has brought back the lost glory of kwara schools that were left shattered by the immediate past administration. Exercpts:

How was growing up as a child looks like? 

I hail from Ilorin here. My mother is from Ile-koto compound very close to Ode-AfaNda. My parents are from the same compound. 

I attended Karumon Primary School and later to Ilorin Grammar School between 1974 -79. I had a certificate in Marketing from Kwara Tech. Along the lines,  I left Nigeria to overseas where I interfaces with different nationalities.

I voyaged into politics during the 1983 elections.  I was one of the pioneer founder of Alanamu club with the likes of Sa'adu Koroagba,  Ibrahim and Muyi Ikolaba. From there we priducded a councillor then called Alege amongst  others in 1983.

In 2002, I joined the administration of late Alabi Lawal, but I later opted out of his government as a result of persistent violence that marred his administration. When Bukola Saraki came,  I was part of the people that midwived him to power. 

Our thought then was that with his high sense of exposure,  he would bring speedy development to Kwara State,  but he failed us. His father,  the late Dr.  Olusola Saraki was a good person.  In fact he was a good friend to my late father. It was the father of this present governor,  late AGF that brought Dr.  Olusola Saraki to Ilorin in 1962.

I know this because my father was a personal assistant to AGF then alongside late Babatunde Alanamu.  Late Dr.  Saraki did well throughout his political reigns.  Our thoughts over Bukola was that he would do more than what his Dad did. We all supported him wholeheartedly,  but he was too self-centered. He is too rude and disrespectful. He has no regards for the elderly. Bukola Saraki turned most of our youths into thug.  

As a grassroots politician,  how would you rate the present administration relatively to the past administration in kwara state? 

There absolutely nothing to compare.  The four years in the helms of affair of Mall.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq with the 16 years of the immediate past administration is pole part to each others. Those capital projects they errousneously laid claim on are federal government interventions.

There was no any indigenous schools that felt their impacts. We had bad roads across the state.  Their government lacks inclusivity. They rotated appointment within their cycles and clusters on like this present administration that always  sought for best brains.  

There is no any local governments area today in kwara that you will not see the impacts of Gov.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led government.  He has brought back the lost glory of kwara schools that were left shattered by the previous government. It was under this present administration that a student won an award for the state from Canada. This is so as a result of his giant stride in educational section. 

Mall.  AbdulRahman AbulRazaq is a benevolent par excellence.  He came up with lots of credits facility intervention for kwara traders. He has impacted positively all kwara marketers.  Go to Ipata markets. Go to Gbugbu market you will see his marks. 

The governor at no time exercises a dominearing leadership style over the people of kwara,  rather he see himself as a servant. But the immediate past government in kwara almost equate themselves with God. They are grossly prodigal and arrogant. They will awards contract without cash backing. 

Look at the Aviation College, the aircraft they procure during their time was resold to one person called Atunwa,  who was a one time taxi driver in London. He refurbished it and sold it back to the same government. They are too fraudulent. They amputated civil servants salaries throughout their period. 

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq paid salary of workers as at when due.  It is sadedned to hear the past prodigal government saying 'Otisuwa'.  If they are tired of this government, they should commit suicide. 

How ready are the people of this your community(Lao) to re-elect Gov.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq? 

I bought this land since 1989 and I met the community not well organised. They made me their leader and the community has witnessed speedy growth as you can see by yourself. I brought a polling unit to the community and that is why in the presidential elections they voted massively for Tinubu and APC. 

I have brought lots of incentive packages for the community that cuts across widows,  artisan and the less privileged ones under the auspies of this government. 

Myself and the governor are from the same family and he has not disappointed us.  And that is why I am supporting him. 

The last elections saw Kwara PDP lost woefully at the poll.  Is this a pointer to final exit of the party in kwara? 

Yes.  I want to belives that nemesis has caught up with kwara PDP.  All these are happening as a result of the continuation of progressive style of leadership of late AGF to which the governor imbibes. 

Our core job in Ilorin before now was weeving and the late AGF in his futuristic minded set established Government Secondary school,  Adeta. The governor also took after his late father in term of living a lasting legacy for future generations. It was on this his track record that led to the collapse of kwara PDP in the presidential and National Assembly elections. 

The people of kwara state have seen the changes. They have seen that PDP have no good plans for them. You can see how our tradition rulers unanimously support the governor.  Our traditional rulers in their wisdom advised Bukola Saraki to let the incubent governor has his share of two terms,  he revolted. 

He went around saying he would alter  the hierarchy of the age-longed norms of our traditional institutions.  He is most he do politics.  He should leave kwarans alone and go back to his medical callings. So the fits of Kwara APC at the last polls was as a result of exponential achievements of Mall.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. 

We noticed that many opposition parties in the state  are decamping to APC,  what is the secrete? 

There is no any secrets about it at all.  I think they have all learnt from their mistakes. They have know the truth and the truth has begun to set them free.  They have decided to go back to their vomit after seeing that their bigotry tendency against the governor has failed them. 

It is the pure heartiness of Mall.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq that makes them to come back.  God has vindicated the governor. 

Tell us some of Gov.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's achievements in the state

Tsaragi township road I did it.  Guanara road along Laina road.  The Governor has constructed over 127 roads across the state. He did over 500 interlocking roads. All schools across the state have been refurbished. 

All basic heath centre got equipments . Over 165 hospitals have been refurbished.  Boreholes just to mention but few.  All our traditional rulers are happy with the governor. 

If you look back down the line how God has led you through the journey of life,  are you fulfilled? 

Yes,  I am fulfilled! Allah has been so magnanimous to me.  I'm not over ambitious, am contented with what God has done for me. 

What is your appeal to the people of Kwara on the need for them to troop out next Saturday to vote Mall.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and APC. 

 Kwarans have known the truth and they will never go back to Egypt. They shouldn't vote for the opposition.  They have nothing for them. The people of Kwara state should in the same manner they did at the presidential poll vote massively for Mall.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and all the APC candidates.

Volleyball: Sunshine Spikers, Plateau Rocks emerge champions of Regional Unity Cup

 

Sunshine Spikers of Ondo and Plateau Rocks are champions of the men and women's category of the just concluded 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup in Oloru, Kwara State on Friday.

Sunshine Spikers defeated New Waves of Ogun State 3-2 (27-25, 12-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11) in the men's final while Plateau Rocks pummeled young Niger Raven 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-17) at the Government Secondary School (GSS) Oloru, Moro Local Government Area.

The Captain of Sunshine Spikers, Daniel Nathaniel commended his teammates for not giving up in the fourth set.

The National team player said, "I am happy Sunshine Spikers won their first trophy in 2022; this trophy will inspire us to play better this season".

Coach of Plateau Rocks women's team, Rakiya Mohammed expressed happiness beginning the 2022 volleyball season with a giant trophy.

The assistant coach of the National U18 Girls team said, "Some of the girls that played the finals are still in secondary schools. I tried an experiment of blending the few senior players and young players at the challenge cup and it worked. This is the revival of Plateau Rocks women's team in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Sponsor of the Challenge Cup, Engineer Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu told newsmen that he is impressed with the turnout of players, coaches and spectators.

Engineer Iliasu said the 3rd edition of the Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup was made possible by Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who is an advocate of youths in government.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transportation said, "I am happy with the turnout of National team players (Junior and Senior) and young volleyball players playing on the same court. The game of volleyball has come to stay in my home town and next year’s challenge cup will be bigger.”

In the third place matches, Oloru Super Stars beat Nile University 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-14) to settle for bronze medal in the men's category while Oloru Super Angels defeated Legacy VC 3-1 (25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 25-13) to snatch the bronze medal.

Attahiru felicitates with Kwarans on New Year, urge them to remain resolute to the growth of dream Kwara

 

The Special Adviser to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Sports and Youth Matters, Hon. Attahiru Ibrahim Abdulkadir has urged Nigerians to remain determined in their pursuit for a better and purposeful life

Attahiru, in a new year message released by his media aide noted that the year 2021 is not without hurdles just like 2020 as the country is still battling with COVID-19 pandemic; Delta variant and hydraheaded  viruse (omicron), still, it doesn't stop _aboki talakawa,_ from achieving the Kwara of our dream.

"Kwarans are grateful to God for giving us a reliable and committed leader who is gradually transforming our dear State of Harmony from civil service state to an economic hub of middle belt."

He however urged Kwarans to remain resolute as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration is achieving Kwara of our dream in all sectors, the results of His Excellency's concerted efforts are seriously yielding positive results.

End.

Kwara United secures promotion to Volleyball Premier league

 

... Appreciates Bashorun Bankole for Unflinching Support

Kwara United Volleyball Club has qualified for the National Division One Premier league after the team finished runners up with 33 Points at the Just Concluded Playoffs in Abuja.

Kwara United who won five out of the six matches played in the second phase of the  playoffs demonstrated high sense of commitment and determination from the beginning to the climax ensure its place in the league with second place finish behind Kada Kings of Kaduna who emerged Champions with 40 points.

Reacting to the development, Coach Wale Gbadamosi saluted the zeal and renew vigour of his players for clinching Premier League ticket, noting it was a dream come true.

He applauded the Chairman of the Kwara State Volleyball Association, Bashorun Kayode Bankole for his unalloyed support throughout the playoffs, stressing that his financial and moral support greatly assisted the team in achieving the feat .

 Meanwhile, Kwara State broke record as the only state in the Country to have three Volleyball teams in the Premier after Offa Volleyball Club and Kwara United female volleyball club secured their qualifications a milestone which many  stakeholders have described as a good result of genuine investment to Sports development by the Present administration under Mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq.

Hon. Attahiru Ibrahim commiserates with Etsu Patigi on demise of Alhaji Musa Abujiya

 

Special Adviser to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Sports and Youth Matters, Hon. Attahiru Ibrahim Abdulkadir commiserates with Etsu Patigi, family and friends of elder statesman, Alhaji Usman Abujiya, the Iya of Patigi Emirate.

According to Hon. Attahiru,  Iya of Patigi Emirate was a peace loving man and a symbol of unity.

"Although his death is shocking but this is a clarion call that death is inevitable and we shall all tasted it," he said. 

He added that: "I pray that Almighty Allah make al-janah firdaous his permanent abode and give the family and people of Patigi the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss."