In a meeting with the relatives and representatives of the 22 athletes killed in a sad accident on their way home from the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun state last week, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has demonstrated that leadership is more than just office.
And this verified Governor Abba as a true people’s governor. A governor who is regarded as attentive to the needs and desires of the people he rules or governs.
It is also why we perceive and represent him as a leader who prioritizes his people’s well-being by actively engaging with them to address their issues.
During the meeting, the governor announced the renaming of the Kano State Sports Institute the Kano State 22 Dead Athletes Sports Institute in an uncommon step to remember and immortalize the 22 Kano sportsmen who tragically perished in May 2025.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, is claimed to have also declared that the state’s sports commission will henceforth be known as the Kano State 22 Death Athletes Sports Commission.
The release added that the Governor also promised that the state government will subsidize the education of the deceased athletes’ children, incorporate their widows into government empowerment programs, and include parents of unmarried athletes in assistance schemes.
This thoughtful and kind action demonstrates Governor Yusuf’s tremendous sympathy and dedication to honoring the memory of the fallen athletes.
It consoles bereaved families and establishes a strong example for how we honor and commemorate our heroes, both in life and after.
Even though I have yet to obtain a copy of the release and all of its contents, I applaud and respect Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for this gesture.