President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound grief over the death of Ibrahim Galadima, a Kano-born sports administrator and community leader, describing his passing as a major loss to Nigerian sports.
Galadima, who died on Saturday at the age of 78, served in key roles with the Kano State and Federal Governments, including as chairman of the Kano State Sports Council and a two-time commissioner.
He later rose to prominence at the federal level, notably as president of the defunct Nigeria Football Association (NFA)—precursor to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)—from 2002 to 2006.
After retiring from active public service, Galadima was turbaned as the Galadiman Fagge, the traditional head of his Fagge community in Kano State.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised Galadima’s enduring contributions to Nigerian football at grassroots and elite levels, saying they would be remembered for generations.
“The death of this former football promoter and administrator is a loss to sports administration and to Nigeria as a whole,” the President stated.
Tinubu extended heartfelt condolences to Galadima’s family; the Kano State Government and people; as well as the wider sports community in Nigeria and beyond.
Galadima’s career traversed sports governance, public service, and traditional leadership, leaving a legacy in Kano and national football development.
