By Saidu Abubakar
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, describing his death as a profound loss to Nigerian sports industry.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the late Alhaji Galadima as a mentor, father figure, and a selfless patriot who placed national interest above personal gain and always worked for the collective good, Dr. (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi FCAI, ANIPR, Director Information & PR, at the NSC said in a statement.
“He was more than a leader; he was a guiding light, mentor and a father figure to many of us who had the privilege of working under and alongside him. His passion for national development was unmatched, and he consistently demonstrated incredible commitment to building structures that would stand the test of time and I was privileged to have worked so closely with him as one of his mentees and strategic advisors throughout his time at the helm of the NFA between 2002-2006 and indeed learnt a lot that shaped my involvement in sports administration and public service,” Dikko said.
In July 2004, Mallam Dikko served as the FIFA Goal Project Manager for Nigeria under Galadima’s leadership as NFA Chairman, which led to the activation of several FIFA Goal projects in Nigeria.
Dikko also served as Strategy consultant, project advisor and coordinator during the Technical Agreement between the NFA/Nigeria Football League and the English Premier League/The FA in London in August 2005, also under Galadima’s leadership.
He added, “That landmark collaboration was a testament to his vision for global partnerships and institutional growth and the standards he thoughts Nigerian football should mirror. He understood the importance of aligning Nigerian football with international best practices, and he worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality inspite of all the challenges and deliberate disruption of the system.
“He was a man of integrity, honesty, straightforward, wisdom, and quiet strength, someone who believed deeply in the power of sports as a tool for unity and national development. His life was defined by selfless service, and his impact will continue to resonate across generations and history will continue to be very kind to him.”
The NSC Chairman further revealed consultations with Alhaji Galadima in the course of executing the President’s mandate in the ongoing reset of Nigerian Sports.
“The first thing we did when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR gave us this task at the Commission was to widely consult with critical stakeholders. With his rich resume in sports administration spanning decades across various roles and unblemished record of public service, Alhaji Galadima was clearly versed on the path we were taking and we had continuous meaningful engagements with him. It must be noted that he was a member of the Caretaker Committee of the then National Sports Commission way back in 1984 and one time chairman of kano state sports commission and indeed until his death he had been a silent advisor to us at the Commission. He was always available to offer useful suggestions towards the advancement of Nigerian sports”, he noted.
In the same vein, the NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade bemoaned the death of Alhaji Galadima at this auspicious time in the nation’s sporting history.
“What we are doing at the Commission needs the experience and contributions of renowned, competent and selfless sports administrators like Alhaji Galadima. We will surely miss his guidance and positives interventions. We commiserate with the people of Kano State and the entire Nigerian sporting fraternity. Indeed this is a huge loss”, he said.
Alhaji Galadima served as Chairman of the then NFA from 2002 to 2006, following an illustrious career that saw him contribute significantly to sports administration and public service.
His leadership journey included roles as Chairman of the Kano State Football Association, Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council, First Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee for Stadia Development for the FIFA World Youth Championship, and Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports in Kano State where he was instrumental to setting up Kano Pillars Football Club among other enduring legacies.
The National Sports Commission, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the entire sports stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond, extends its heartfelt condolences to the Galadima family, the football community, and the government and people of Kano State over this irreparable loss.
“May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest in Aljanna and grant all who mourn him the fortitude to bear this great loss,” the Chairman concluded.
