Tinubu, NSC, NFF Mourn as Ace Sports Administrator, Ibrahim Galadima, Buried in Kano

Deji Elumoye  in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of Kano-born ace sports administrator and community leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.

The President, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the demise of the former football promoter and administrator as a loss to sports administration and to Nigeria as a whole.

He noted that Galadima’s contributions to the development of Nigerian football at both grassroots and elite levels would be remembered by Nigerians for a long time.

Tinubu expressed condolences to his family, the government and people of Kano State and the sports community in Nigeria and beyond.

 Galadima, who died on Saturday at the age of 74, had served the Kano State Government and the Federal Government in various capacities, including as chairman of the Kano State Sports Council and a two-time commissioner, before holding various positions in sports administration at the federal level.

Galadima also served as president of the defunct Nigeria Football Association (NFA), the precursor of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), between 2002 and 2006.

Since leaving active service, Galadima was turbaned and served as the Galadiman Fagge, the community head of his Fagge community in Kano State.

He was buried yesterday in Kano with 

In his tribute, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), 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.

“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.

Also, President of the NFF, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau, in his tribute, described the death of the sports administrator as one too hard to bear. “This is another death that hit us hard. Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima was a mentor to so many of us who are in various leadership positions in Nigeria sports today. He was the epitome of high dignity, diligence and integrity.

“We will miss his fatherly advice and words of wisdom dearly. Our prayer is that the Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and grant the family he has left behind and the Nigeria Football family the fortitude to bear the big loss,” Gusau said.

Galadima’s Janaza prayers was attended by HRH Aminu Bayero; former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; H.E  Ali Saad Birnin Kudu; SSG Kaduna State, Dr Abdulkadir Muazu, Chairman NSC, Shehu Dikko; NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau; former NFF General Secretary, Alh Sani Ahmed  Toro amongst several other distinguished personalities from all spheres of life.

Born on 14th June 1951 in Kano, Ibrahim Galadima lived his life around sports, serving meritoriously in all assigned or elective positions. He was Chairman of the Kano State Football Association between 1977 and 1979, served as the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council between 1981 and 1983, and in 1984, was made a Member of the Caretaker Committee of the National Sports Commission.

Between 1985-1987, he was the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee. In the waning 80s, he was Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports in Kano State, and later served as the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport in the State.

Galadima was appointed a Member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee for Stadia Development ahead of the FIFA World Youth Championship that Nigeria was scheduled to host in 1995. The tournament was moved due to health concerns, but when Nigeria eventually hosted four years later, he served as Chairman of the Kano Sub-Seat.