Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq says his administration would hold talks with stakeholders, especially in the sports industry as the state looks to rename a major monument after the late Nigeria international Rashidi Yekini.
The governor said on Thursday that the consultations would be followed by him forwarding a bill to the Kwara State House of Assembly to rename a major sports facility — possibly the stadium complex or its main bowl — after Yekini who scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal at USA 94.
He said the state is also considering renaming some monuments after the late George Innih, a former governor of the state who built the Kwara State Stadium Complex, among other major facilities in the state.
The governor made the comments during a visit to the Minister of Youths and Sports Development Sunday Dare in Abuja, where he reassured sports lovers of the readiness of the administration to immortalise Yekini.
AbdulRazaq, meanwhile, is pushing for Kwara to be made the north central regional headquarters for the national creative industry training programme which the sports ministry is coordinating, according to a statement by his chief press secretary Rafiu Ajakaye.
The programme leverages the creative industry financing initiative, and is designed to boost job creation amongst the youth in Nigeria. The initiative was put together by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the bankers’ committee.
The governor also got the assurances of the ministry to support the Kwara State Football Academy into becoming a major national football talent hub, the statement added.
In addition, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs said AbdulRazaq has positioned Kwara to be number one recipient of whatever grants or support that may target women in Nigeria following his unprecedented inclusion of women in the decision making process.
Speaking when AbdulRazaq visited her on Thursday in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen commended the governor for his support for women and children, urging the state to expedite action on the bill that seeks to ban violence and all forms of discrimination against women and the girl child.
