Last week, this column invited all sports stakeholders in Kano state to nominate a deserving individual for the award of our 2023 Sports Administrator of the year.
And to ensure the integrity of this award, the entire sports stakeholders comprising presenters, writers, announcers, coaches, players etc. were asked to nominate an individual who will be the eventual winner of the award via online voting.
It was an open arrangement because nobody was given or mentioned for the stakeholders to choose. Those wishing to participate were only told to forward their nomination for the person they see worthy to occupy this important and historic position.
And surprisingly, all the 123 respondents that participated in the process nominated only one person who incidentally was the last Director Technical, Kano State Sports Commission.
A sports guru, sports expert, sports commentator and sports encyclopedia who clinched this feat by all the 123 individuals which comprises presenters, writers, coaches, new and old players that contributed to the online voting.
Under his watch as Director Technical, the Kano State Sports Commission has witnessed a remarkable and an unprecedented transformation which resultant effects were winning laurels, medals and excelling in every sporting event for Kano state partook.
The impressive Sports Administrator of the year 2023 has been adjudged and celebrated as an individual who had or have been positively impacting or contributing to sports and sports administration in the state.
Dr. Bashari Ahmad Maizare is an excellent sports administrator with vast administrative skills and creativity in sports management who many see as instrumental to many victories and laurels won by Kano state before bowing out of service as Director of Sports.
When asked about his joy and sadness during his decades with the Sports Council and now Sports Commission, the winner of our 2023 Sports Administrator has these to say: “My sadness during my stint at the council now commission was how I was neglected and dumped by my superiors. Nearly all of them did not give me the chance to prove myself.”
“I was only given the opportunity to prove myself and ability to deliver by outsiders who were neither part of the council or commission but as part-timers (Board Chairman) or directly from the above.
“People will be surprised to hear that with all my contributions and dedication to work, nobody from inside saw me worthy to occupy any position. All my appointments or postings except Organizing Secretary or PRO used to come from outside.
“It was on record that there was never a time when my name was made as part of any sports tourism within or outside the country,” he explained.
On his joy, the former Director said: “What fascinated me most, was the attention and respect I received from the people at the top (Chairmen or Commissioners) who issued directives for a role and positions for me. “
A genius in the world of sports, Maizare is one of the best and hardworking sports administrators within both serving and retired sports administrators in Kano.
He is unarguably one of the most outstanding sports administrators and experts ever produced in the history of sports administration and sports followership in Kano state.
A shrewd, well-informed and highly educated fellow, Dr. Maizare is described as a data bank of sports theories and happenings in the globe and that made him a regular consultant on all sports related issues by all media houses in Kano state.
Hardly a week passes without him being invited as guest for one sports function or another or for one interview or the other by various sports journalists be it print, broadcast or online media.
Dr. Maizare is also imparting his knowledge and wealth of experience and professionalism of sports to others especially those who are ready to tap from him.
And that explains why he enjoys respect among his former colleagues and also enjoys patronage among sports journalists as he is their regular resource person or consultant on various sports issues on a daily basis.
Dr. Maizare has not only taken his knowledge to the peak of sports development but also been very generous in a manner he is conveying his wealth of his experience and knowledge for the development of sports in Kano state and the country as a whole.
As the secretary of Kano Pillars Football Club, he managed the team to victorious outings when it won the Nigeria National Professional football league for three consecutive times in 2012, 2013 and 2014. It was the first league triumph in the three decades’ history of the club.
As a Director of Sports in charge of Technical Department at the Kano State Sports Commission, his achievements speaks volumes in the field of sports for him among those he worked with in Sports Commission, other Directors of Sports of the federation and Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Born on June 30th, 1964 at Kofar Wambai in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Dr. Bashari Ahmed Maizare attended Festival Special Primary School between the 1970 to 1977, Kano Teachers College(KTC) from 1978 to 1983.
Unlike many other people that paraded themselves as sports administrators, Dr Maizare was not an intruder in sports as he was Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria first, from 1985 to 1987 for a Diploma and in 1989 to 1992 for his Degree all in Physical and Health Education (PHE). He returned to the prestigious ABU, Zaria for his MSc Sports Management in 2010.
Dr. Maizare bagged his PhD in Sports Management last year from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the qualification which made him the first PhD holder in Sports Management outside academia in Kano state.
Dr. Maizare is now awaiting his certificate in Law (LL.B) from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)and is also a member of various professional bodies which include; Institute of Corporate Administration and Nigeria Institute of Management.
Dr. Bashari Ahmed Maizare has to his credit various certificates of honors and recognition from the National Institute for Sports (NIS) as fellow of the Institute, Kano State Sports Council as the best Organizing Secretaries Award, Kano State Football Referees Council, Merit award and Kano State Higher Institutions Games Award.
The rest are Kano State Football Coaches Council Merit Award. Recipient, the Office of the Head of Civil Service Award, The Kano State and Nigeria Labour Congress Merit Award (NLC) and a Kano State Basketball Association Award of excellence.
A highly influential and respected sports administrator, Dr.Maizare has attended and presented several seminar papers at various forums. Among his participation are at the Confederation African de Football (CAF) High Level Referees Football Course Certificate in 1994, Confederation Africa de Football High Level Referee’s Course Certificate in1991, Confederation Africa de Football Administrative Certificate course in1999 and FIFA “Futuro Course” World Football Development Programme in1994.
Others are FIFA Referees Courses. High level referees Course Certificate in 1996, International Olympic Solidarity Committee Sports Development Programme Course in 1991, and International Olympic Committee Advance Sports Management course in 2012.
A member of Nigeria Gymnastics Federation, Dr. Bashari Ahmed Maizare also attended Coaches, Judges and Umpires seminars in 2001 by Nigeria Hockey Federation for Sports (National Workshop/Seminar, and participated in the NFA/Globacom Premier Leagues Seminar Certificate in 2002/2003 season.
Dr. Maize had officiated matches in both National Amateur League, the Nigeria Professional/Premier League and National Challenge/Federation Cup. He was the reserve referee of the National Final in Bauchi between BCC lions FC and Julius Berger fc in 1994.
He was national graded referee/Umpire/Judge in Football, Handball, Hockey, Table Tennis, Athletics and Gymnastics sports and games in Nigeria.
Before he reached his present top position of directorship, Dr. Maizare was Organizing Secretary of many associations which include Hockey Association, Basketball Association, Volleyball Association and served as secretary Kano Pillars Football Club (twice) before finally appointed the scribe of Kano State Sports Council.
Other positions he held were Stadium Manager, Kano Pillars Stadium in Sabon Gari, PRO, Kano State Sports Council, Secretary Nigeria ’99 Kano sub-seat, Social Ceremonial sub-committee, Secretary Ghana-Nigeria 2000 Kano Sub-Seat, Ceremonial Sub-Committee, Secretary 12th National Sports Festival–Kano 2000 Ceremonial Sub-Committee and Registrar B3 basketball academy Kano.
He was the Acting Director of Sport of Kano State Sports Council in 2016 before its nomenclature was changed toKano State Sports Commission.
On his carrier achievements, Dr. Maizare was the winning coach of the 15th edition of late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero Cup in 1987 in Kano with Festival Primary School Kano, as secretary of FESOC, his club won the national Tsoho Abdullahi National FESOC Football Cup in 1992 in Kaduna with IBB Babies of Kano and also won the Nigeria National Volleyball League in 1999 in Gumel, Jigawa state with the then Kano Super Stars Volleyball team of Kano.
As the Director of Sports, Maizare was the brain behind all the successes of the Kano state victorious outings at the 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja for Kano state in 2018 by winning the 71 medals which comprised 19 Gold, 27 Silver and 25 Bronze medals and which made Kano to occupied 8th position on the final medals table.
In 2021 at the 20th NSF in Edo state (Benin City) in 2021, Kano won 66 medals made up 11 Golds, 25 Silvers and 30Bronze placed 9th on table.
During the 21st 2022 National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, Kano won 77 medals comprising 20 Golds, 27Silvers and 30 Bronze which placed Kano 7th on table.
As a Director, he was instrumental to the victory of Kano Pillars Football Club in Kaduna in 2019 for winning the Nigeria Football Federation Cup (AITEO Cup) and the Nigeria Handball Prudent Premier League with Kano Pillars Handball Club in Lagos in 2019.
Dr. Maizare attended the World Athletics Championship in Dono, Qatar in 2019 and African Athletics Championship in Asaba, Nigeria in 2018. As well as attended football and Basketball championships in Abidjan, CIV, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger Rep, Central Africa Rep, Dosolle Congo, Brazalle DR Congo, Dakar Senegal and Cotonou, Benin Rep. respectively.
He also attended and participated at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria’s 13th Batch Course in Kano in January,2011, Centre for management development’s course on budget and planning in Kano in 2010, Leap’s Course on Business Leadership in Kano in 2009 as well as International Associations of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Certificate of Attendance of Race Emergency Medicine Workshop in Doha, Qatar in2019.
Dr. Bashir Maizare’s love and passion for the journalism profession is not hidden as it made him actively participate in airing radio Hausa sports programmes in Ray Power (radio) stations from 2004to 2014. He was also a contributor with the Triumph Newspaper for 13 years 1993– 2005 by compiling annual sports reviews for each year.
The Man of the Year 2023 was the Editor and publisher of the monthly Hausa Sports Magazine Kwallon Kafa for 10 years (2003 – to2013) produced monthly.
He was also the Chairman of African Youth Sports Federation (AYSOF) Kano State that organized Youth Competitions popularly called (BOSKA cup) yearly and he was the secretary of a National Amateur League Division I side, Meridian Airlines Football Club, Kano.
Dr. Maizare was the immediate past chairman States Director of Sports Forum of Nigeria, member of 6th National Youth Games organizing Committee 2021 in Ilorin, member of 21st National Sports Festival Organizing Committee 2022 in Asaba Delta state and member of Scheme and Conditions of Service Committee for Sports Cadres for Nigeria Sports Sector2022 in Abuja as well as Secretary Organising Committee for Aspira Marathon2023 in Kano State.
Happily married with children, Maizare enjoys reading and writing.
Dr. Maizare’s leadership and capacity to deliver are extraordinary and that is why we are optimistic that with people like him at the helm of our sports affairs, Kano state sports and that of the the country will be transformed in no time.
Congratulations.