A non-governmental organization operating under the aegis of the Ahmed Ayinla Foundation on Thursday gave an award of Excellence to some individuals who are said to have played significant roles in the promotion and development of Sports in Kwara State.
The event held at the George Innih Stadium, Ilorin, was declared open by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Adisa Bolakale Magaji, who commended the foundation for a well-thought-out initiative to celebrate sports heroes while still alive.
Delivering his speech, the Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Foundation, Dr. Jimoh Ahmed Ayinla, said the foundation was launched a few years ago with the aim of ‘service to humanity’.
He noted that the foundation have over the years carried out couple of programmes such as donation of food items and cash gift to orphanage home, public advocacy/sensitization programme on the need for a violence free general election and series of support to downtroddens.
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“It is in continuation of the laudable objectives of our foundation that we have today decided to recognise and honour some prominent Kwara indigenes who have in the past (in the 60s/70s and early 80s) made useful and impactful contributions through their God-given talents in the sports sector to the development of Kwara Sports either as Footballers, Coaches, Administrators, Journalism or Supporters.
“Also the Foundation equally recognizes the singular contribution of the Late Alhaji Yusuf Adebayo Salami Sarumi the founder of Alyusuf Salam Rocks Football Club. The club took the state to her first final in the history of the National Challenge Cup in 1976, but the club lost to Enugu Rangers at the final stage. This man the late Alyusuf Salam single-handedly financed the club as a result he deserved a posthumous award from our foundation.
“This is our own modest way of appreciating them as well as telling them that the “Labour of our heroes past, shall not be in vain”. It is also our firm and sincere belief that this gesture will encourage and spur upcoming sports talents which abound in our dear state to continue to showcase their talents in the interest of peace and development of Kwara State.
“May I also seize this unique opportunity to appeal to other Organizations, Corporate bodies, and well-to-do individuals to assist the State Government in its quest to give the sports sector the desired development. This will go a long way in ensuring a more vibrant and healthy society which will be the pride of us all,” he said.
Those honoured with the sports awards of excellence at the events are renowned sport Journalist, Mr Bayour Issah (Mr Sports), former Kwara state commissioner for sport Alh Hameed Adio (OLY), Yakubu Ekundayo- Captain Dayo, and Baba Alli – Magaji Ikolaba.
Others are Alh Abdulkadir Tosho Alanamu, Coach Issa Saliman aka Lanky, Rashid Badmus-Baye, late Alh Adebayo Yusuf Salami Sarumi (posthumous), and Kwara United Supporters Football Club.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, former commissioner for sport, Alhaji Hammeed Adio, recalled with nostalgia how he, and other sports enthusiasts worked and served the country with the spirit of patriotism.
“Those days we were doing it because of interest not money, it was about the pride in wearing the national colours of Green, White, Green out millions of People”, he said.
Adio thanked the organisers of the event for rewarding excellence.