Kwara Stakeholders Hail Retiring Sports Director Bako, Call For Urgent Reforms

Stakeholders in Kwara State’s sports sector have commended Mall Ibrahim Oladele Bako at his retirement as Director of Sports at the Kwara State Sports Commission, while urging the government to move quickly on reforms they say are needed to protect recent gains.

Bako, who spent 35 years in public service, said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had committed substantial resources to sports facilities and funding. He said the level of investment in recent years stands out when compared with previous administrations.

“No governor has invested as heavily in sports as Governor Abdulrazaq,” Bako said. “In my decades of service, I have not seen this level of commitment to facilities and funding. The impact is already evident in the laurels Kwara has recorded.”

He also warned that spending alone will not deliver long-term outcomes unless weak-performing areas are corrected quickly. According to him, early intervention through administrative changes and targeted restructuring is necessary if the state wants full value from the investments already made.

“Investment alone is not enough. Rapid reshufflements and reforms are necessary in areas where results are not forthcoming, if the state is to reap maximum benefits,” he added.

Bako’s career covered teaching, coaching, football administration and wider sports management. He served at different times as secretary of Kwara United, which competes in the Nigeria Premier Football League, and as Sole Administrator of the Kwara Football Academy.

As news of his retirement spread, tributes came from football officials, sports administrators and media professionals. Chairman of the Kwara Football Association, Idris Musa Abdullahi, also known as Thuraya, said Bako played a major role in talent development and grassroots football growth in the state.

“He is an excellent talent nurturer, a sound manager and a seasoned administrator. He worked with whatever resources were available and still achieved remarkable results,” Abdullahi said.

ABS FC Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka, said Bako’s influence reached beyond Kwara, noting that many elite athletes who passed through the state system were shaped by his work.

“He leaves an indelible mark on professional football in Kwara and Nigeria,” Chukwuemeka said.

National Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Yinka Owolewa, said administrators with Bako’s experience should continue to be engaged after retirement. Kwara SWAN Secretary, Oluwadare Kuti, said Bako maintained strong working ties with the media through an open-door approach.

Stakeholders said Kwara now has a strong base in sports infrastructure and administration, but argued that the next phase will depend on disciplined execution, performance-based reforms and continuity in grassroots development.