Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has honoured the athletes who participated in the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He rewarded them with cash prizes and certificates in recognition of their performance.
At a reception held at the state banquet hall in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq described the athletes as ‘heroes and heroines’, noting that their achievements had brought pride and honour to Kwara.
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The state won six gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze medals at the festival.
Gold medallists received ₦1 million each, while silver and bronze winners were given ₦500,000 and ₦300,000 respectively.
Members of the coaching team also received monetary rewards.
“This event is a celebration of your commitment, patriotism, and excellence,” AbdulRazaq said.
“Nothing can fully compensate for your efforts, but history will remember how you deployed your talents to elevate Kwara.”
The governor also used the occasion to announce the settlement of a ₦201 million sign-on fee debt owed to coaches and players of Kwara United Football Club.
The backlog, which had remained unpaid for 16 years, was cleared to underscore his administration’s commitment to sports development and athlete welfare.
“We have not only invested in infrastructure, but also in people,” he said.
“This payment reaffirms our dedication to the welfare of our athletes, officials, and all sports stakeholders.”
AbdulRazaq highlighted recent investments in sports infrastructure across the state.
These include the construction and renovation of facilities such as an Olympic-size swimming pool, indoor sports hall, squash courts, and a new table tennis complex—many of which are unique in Nigeria and across Africa.
He stressed that these projects were part of a broader vision to position Kwara as a leading hub for sports talent development and national contribution.
Top government officials and sports stakeholders attended the event, including the Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Magaji; former Commissioner for Sports and Olympian, Hameed Adio; SWAN Chairman, Ismail Ayodeji; and Director of Sports, Ibrahim Bako.
Magaji credited the governor’s support as key to the recent sporting successes.
“Before now, many athletes had no opportunities,” he said.
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“Now, there’s hardly a month without one of our associations being represented within or outside Nigeria.”
Adio praised the administration’s focus on combining sports and education as a strategy to raise future stars, while Ayodeji called for Kwara United to play their African Confederation Cup home matches in Ilorin to boost local support and the economy.
