It is widely acknowledged that Shehu Adamu made history as the first government-appointed Media Officer of Kano Pillars Football Club many years ago.
Throughout his tenure, which he served under various management committees, he demonstrated remarkable professionalism and dedication promoting the club’s image.
Shehu Adamu’s wealth of experience and deep understanding of the team’s internal workings positioned him as a respected voice within the football community, contributing significantly to the growth and visibility of Kano Pillars both within and beyond the state.
He is presently serving as the Head of the News and Current Affairs Department at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kano, a position that reflects his vast experience and professionalism in broadcast journalism.
Before assuming this role, he worked at some media stations before being transferred to the Katsina State branch of NTA, where he gained valuable expertise and contributed immensely to news coverage and program of the station.
His journey through different stations of the network has not only improved his journalistic skills but also established him as a credible and respected media professional within Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape.
Recently, I observed Adamu’s genuine concerns over Kano Pillars’ poor performance in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League, which he thoughtfully expressed in his articles.
His observations in his recent piece reflect a deep sense of passion and commitment to the club’s progress, highlighting areas that require urgent attention from both the management and the government.
By voicing these issues, he demonstrates not only his love for the team but also his desire to see Kano Pillars regain its former glory and competitiveness in the national football scene.
Certainly, there is no doubt that in a situation like this, Adamu has every reason to be concerned, as the team he once worked hard to elevate and promote its image in the nation’s football scene now finds itself in serious trouble, facing the looming threat of relegation.
But after thoroughly going through Shehu Adamu’s write-up titled: “Kano Pillars FC dismal performance: What the government must do,” I began to see his worries b
Adamu began his piece by noting that the manner in which Kano Pillars is navigating in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season clearly shows that structural, managerial, and governance challenges are undermining the club’s competitiveness and tarnishing its reputation.
He expressed the view that, given these challenges, there is a strong need to dissolve the current management board and implement comprehensive reforms. He further outlined the key reasons behind this call and provided an analysis of the club’s present position in the league.
Shehu Adamu identified several critical factors that, in his view, are hindering the progress and overall performance of Kano Pillars Football Club.
According to him, these issues have collectively weakened the team’s structure, morale, and competitive edge in the ongoing league campaign.
He emphasized that unless these challenges are urgently addressed, the club may continue to struggle both on and off the pitch during the season.
The key factors he highlighted include the following:-
Dismal Performance in the Ongoing NPFL; Inexperience of Most Board Members to Manage an NPFL Team; Over-Sized Board Membership; Supervision by the Office of the Executive Governor Instead of the Ministry; Need for a Functional Auditing System (Transparency & Accountability); Appointment of Non-Partisan and Professional Board Members; Clear Role for the Team Manager to Avoid Friction between Him and the Board; Fan Club Education to Prevent Hooliganism and Analysis of Current NPFL Position of the Team.
I fully acknowledge and agree with many of the points raised by my esteemed colleague and highly experienced News Manager from Nigeria’s largest television network. However, I must respectfully disagree with certain aspects of his submission.
This is because his analysis, in several aspects, demonstrates deep insight and a genuine concern for the current state and future of Kano Pillars Football Club, popularly known as Sai Masu Gida.
I believe that some of his conclusions require a more comprehensive viewpoint, the one that takes into account of the intricate reality surrounding the team’s management structure, financial difficulties, and the current league dynamics.
To me, calling for the immediate dissolution of the club’s management board, in my opinion, is not the best way to address Kano Pillars’ present problems since it would be like treating the symptoms without first identifying the underlying cause.
The first and most important step should be to carefully identify and understand the root causes of the team’s poor performances, whether if they stem from poor funding, weak technical direction, inadequate player motivation, or administrative lapses.
To me, without a clear and honest assessment of the real problems confronting the club, dissolving the management might only lead to another cycle of confusion and instability.
It is important to note that this call has already prompted certain individuals, who lack the competence and genuine passion to lead but are instead driven by selfish motives to exploit government funds, to begin making unwarranted visits to the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Sports in pursuit of the positions of Kano Pillars Chairman and Board Members.
That is why we need to first uncover the club’s problem before we commence meaningful reform that must therefore begin with a thorough evaluation of the existing system before any drastic decisions are made.
But I agree that the inclusion of some inexperienced members on the club’s board may indeed contribute to its current challenges.
However, I would like to remind Malam Shehu Adamu that the board members primarily serve as policymakers rather than technical experts.
Their role is to provide direction, oversight, and administrative guidance, while the technical decisions that directly affect the team’s performance on the pitch are the responsibility of the coaching crew and technical department.
Regarding the issue of an oversized board membership, I, too, find it difficult to understand why the government chose to appoint such a large number of individuals to serve on the club’s management board.
This decision raises serious questions about efficiency, coordination, and accountability within the team’s administrative structure.
Because a board that is too large often leads to overlapping responsibilities, slower decision-making processes, and, at times, conflicting interests among members.
Instead of fostering progress, it can create unnecessary bureaucracy that hampers effective management.
Ideally, the government should have constituted a smaller, more focused board made up of competent professionals with relevant experience in football administration, finance, and management people who can make timely decisions and drive the club toward meaningful improvement.
On Adamu’s observation regarding the supervision of the club by the Ministry rather than the Office of the Executive Governor, I share the same concern and find the arrangement quite puzzling.
This structure, in my view, introduces an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy that often slows down decision-making and hampers the smooth operation of the team.
When administrative processes must pass through multiple offices before approval, even urgent matters such as player welfare, funding, or logistics can face frustrating delays.
This not only affects the morale of the players and technical crew but also weakens the club’s overall competitiveness.
Ideally, the supervision of Kano Pillars should be directly under the Office of the Executive Governor, where decisions can be made swiftly and with greater accountability, ensuring that the club’s needs are addressed promptly and effectively.
On the issue of establishing a functional auditing system to ensure transparency and accountability, I completely agree with this suggestion, as it is a crucial step toward safeguarding the integrity of the club’s financial operations.
A well-structured and independent auditing mechanism would not only promote prudent management of resources but also prevent the diversion or misuse of government funds meant for the development of the team.
By instituting regular financial reviews, clear reporting standards, and proper documentation of expenditures, the club can foster trust among stakeholders and fans alike.
Moreover, such a system would help identify inefficiencies, expose financial irregularities, and encourage responsible spending, ensuring that every naira allocated to Kano Pillars is used strictly for the club’s growth and sustainability.
On the matter of appointing non-partisan and professional board members, I believe Malam Shehu Adamu must also take into account the political realities of our time.
We are in an era where every government, by its very nature, tends to reflect its political interests in the composition of boards and agencies under its control.
Expecting a completely apolitical management structure within a government-owned club like Kano Pillars without a political representation may not be entirely realistic.
However, while political influence is inevitable, what truly matters is finding a healthy balance, that is ensuring that appointees, whether politically connected or not, possess the competence in the field, integrity, and passion required to move the club forward.
But I too agreed that the focus should be on merit, professionalism, and results rather than political loyalty alone.
If the government must include its allies, it should at least ensure that they have the relevant background, administrative capacity, and genuine commitment to sports development, so that politics does not overshadow the club’s performance and objectives.
On the issue of defining a clear role for the Team Manager to prevent friction between him and the board, I believe Shehu Adamu should have gone a step further by calling on the Kano State Government to work with the State House of Assembly to enact a specific law establishing and guiding the operations of Kano Pillars Football Club.
Since its inception in 1990, the club has operated without any formal law or bye-law to serve as its administrative and operational framework.
This lack of legal backing has created recurring confusion regarding roles, responsibilities, and authority among management members, technical staff, and the board.
If such legislation were in place, it would clearly define the functions and limits of each office, provide a structured chain of command, and ensure accountability across all levels.
Moreover, a properly enacted law would protect the club from political interference, promote stability, and give Kano Pillars a solid institutional foundation comparable to professionally run clubs around the world.
On the issue of Fan Club Education to Prevent Hooliganism, I fully agree with Malam Shehu Adamu’s position, as the conduct of some Kano Pillars supporters has, on several occasions, brought unnecessary problems to both the club and the state government.
The lack of proper orientation among fans on acceptable behavior during matches has often resulted in incidents of violence, property damage, and sanctions from football authorities, all of which tarnish the club’s image and affect its performance.
It is therefore essential to introduce consistent fan education and sensitization programs aimed at promoting discipline, tolerance, and respect for fair play.
Supporters must understand that football is a game of passion but also of respect for the officials, opponents, and the rules of the sport.
The club, in collaboration with the state government and security agencies, should establish a structured fan relations department that will organize seminars, campaigns, and outreach activities to instil sportsmanship values.
By doing so, Kano Pillars can build a more responsible and supportive fan base that contributes positively to the team’s growth rather than being a source of setbacks.
Finally, to address the problems of Kano Pillars, I want to joined Shehu Adamu and call on the Kano State Government and the management of Kano Pillars Football Club to undertake a comprehensive reform process aimed at restoring the club’s lost glory and strengthening its institutional framework.
The process must begin with a thorough diagnostic assessment to identify the root causes of the team’s persistent underperformance.
Without a clear understanding of the actual problems, whether financial mismanagement, weak technical leadership, inadequate player motivation, or administrative lapses, any attempt at reform would only address symptoms rather than the underlying challenges.
Secondly, the government should consider trimming the size of the Kano Pillars board to a small size for more efficiency.
Furthermore, it is imperative that the supervision and administrative oversight of Kano Pillars be clearly streamlined.
The club should operate directly under the Office of the Executive Governor for effective coordination and timely decision-making, rather than under the Ministry of Sports where bureaucratic bottlenecks often delay critical actions.
Direct supervision will promote accountability, allow for swift responses to pressing issues such as funding, player welfare, and logistics, and foster a stronger sense of ownership at the highest level of government.
Lastly, the government should adopt a comprehensive long-term strategic development plan for Kano Pillars Football Club, the one that embraces modern football management principles, robust youth development programs, and sustainable funding mechanisms.
This plan must prioritize talent discovery and nurturing, full professionalization of the club’s operations, and financial self-sufficiency to minimize dependence on government subventions.
With consistent leadership, transparency, and a sincere commitment to reform, Kano Pillars can undoubtedly reclaim its rightful place among Nigeria’s most successful and respected football clubs.
