By Emma Jemegah
Almost 13 years ago he passed on, former Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, has finally been honoured by his state government, Kwara State.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the naming of some old and new legacy projects in the state after historic figures and leaders.
The Main-Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium is named after the late Yekini, a football legend renowned for scoring Nigeria’s first World Cup goal and the country’s highest goal scorer till date. Late Yekini hailed from Irra, in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Similarly, the Kwara State Stadium Complex will now be known as Major-General George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, in appreciation of his contributions to the state.
It’s on record that the Edo state born Administrator built the Complex in 1977.
Governor AbdulRazaq also approved for some other important state facilities to be named as follows: Table Tennis Arena is named after Atanda Musa (Manza Musa), who was a national champion in the games in 1979; Indoor Sports Hall is named after Gabriel Babatunde Ladipo, the first black principal of the Government Technical Training School Ilorin (GTTS), who was regarded as the father of sports in the state.
Squash Court is named after coach Bolakale Mogaji, Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, who was the pioneer coach, player, and national champion in the squash game; KFA Academy is named after Coach Usman Adenuja, the first football coach who took the Kwara Academicals to the final of Academical football competition. The Governor was among his products.
Hostel A of the Stadium is named after Salihu Ishola, the first Kwaran Commonwealth Games’ medalist; Hostel B is named after Paralympic badminton bronze medalist, Bolaji Eniola; and Hostel C is named after Bola Esan, the first female Director of Sports.
Governor Abdulrazaq has approved the naming of some old and new legacy projects in the state after historic figures and leaders.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, after whom the multibillion naira Civil Service Clinic project is being named.
Along with the ICT Centre built under the Renewed Hope Initiative of her office at the Kwara State University of Education, the wife of the President will also inaugurate a few legacy projects of the Governor such as the Unity Flyover, ultramodern Intensive Care Unit, Executive Ward, and Gen. Tunde Idiagbon Flyover — earlier named after the late disciplinarian leader.
The road leading to the flyover is now to be called the Tafawa Balewa Road, a gesture in honour of Nigeria’s former Prime Minister, who was killed in the January 1966 military coup.
The Governor has, meanwhile, approved for the ICT Centre to be named after former Minister Amina Ndalolo, a jewel of Kwara North, while the executive ward at the Kwara State Teaching Hospital is named after the late prominent physician and politician Dr. Amuda Aluko.
The first state secretariat is now to be called the Brigadier General David Bamigboye Secretariat in honour of the first military administrator of the old Kwara State, while the new secretariat is named after Rear Admiral Muhammed Alabi Lawal who governed the state between 1999 and 2003.