Tributes Pour In As Ex-NFF President Ibrahim Galadima Passes Away At 74

Tributes Pour In As Ex-NFF President Ibrahim Galadima Passes Away At 74

By Our Reporter 

Nigerian football has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Nigeria Football Association president, Ibrahim Galadima, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 74, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Galadima, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most respected sports administrators, served as president of the then Nigeria Football Association between 2002 and 2006. His tenure followed years of distinguished service across multiple levels of sports administration.

Before leading the national football body, he held several key positions, including chairman of the Kano State Football Association, executive chairman of the Kano State Sports Council, and first vice president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee. He also served on the Presidential Monitoring Committee for stadia development ahead of the FIFA World Youth Championship and held commissioner roles in Kano State, overseeing Social Welfare, Youth and Sports, as well as Works, Housing and Transport.

Tributes have begun to pour in, with current Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau describing Galadima as a mentor and a man of immense integrity.

“This is a painful loss. Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima was a mentor to many of us in leadership today. He embodied dignity, diligence and integrity,” Gusau said. “We will deeply miss his guidance and wisdom. We pray that Almighty Allah grants him eternal rest and gives his family and the Nigerian football community the strength to bear this loss.”

Born on June 14, 1951, in Kano, Galadima dedicated much of his life to the development of sports in Nigeria. He began his administrative career as chairman of the Kano State FA in the late 1970s and went on to serve as executive chairman of the state sports council in the early 1980s.

In 1984, he was appointed to the caretaker committee of the National Sports Commission, before rising to become first vice president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee between 1985 and 1987. He later served in the Kano State executive council in multiple capacities.

Galadima also played a role in preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the FIFA World Youth Championship. Although the 1995 edition was moved due to health concerns, he contributed to planning efforts and later served as chairman of the Kano sub-committee when Nigeria hosted the tournament in 1999.

His death marks the end of an era for Nigerian football administration, leaving behind a legacy of service, leadership and commitment to the growth of the game.