Gov Yusuf unity games conclude with celebrations

The Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Unity Games, organized by the One Kano Initiative was concluded Sunday with participants receiving medals, awards, trophies, and cash prizes totalling over N500,000.

 SolaceBase reports that every player who participated in the games was declared a winner at the event held at Kano Pillars Stadium. 

The event, which commenced on December 19 and ended on December 22, featured football, marathon races, women’s table tennis, and snooker, with participants drawn from various communities across the state. 

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf emphasized that the primary objective of the games was to foster unity among the people of Kano.

Speaking through his representative, Muktar Abdullahi Asad, Senior Special Assistant on Rural and City Development, the governor said, “The Kano State Government has allocated resources for this initiative to strengthen unity.

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“These games bring together people from all walks of life, including businesspeople, students, and NGOs. This is not the first event of its kind and will certainly not be the last,” he stated.

He added, “In these games, for example, you can see Muslims, Christians, and even those without religious affiliations coming together. We are planning to host many more games like this in 2025.” 

Speaking during the award ceremony at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Edidiong Etefia, the Director-General of the One Kano Initiative, noted that the games were not only entertaining but also a resounding success.

“These games are a celebration of Kano’s long-standing history of unity. That is why everyone is a winner,” he said. 

Etefia explained that every participant in the competition was rewarded for their efforts across various sports.

In football, all eight participating teams were given N20,000 each as a participation fee. Additionally, the third-place team won N50,000, the second-place team received N100,000, and the champions were awarded N150,000 for their outstanding performance.

In the marathon event, the first-place winner was awarded N50,000, while other participants received N5,000 each as a token of appreciation. For the snooker competition, the winner earned N15,000, and the runner-up received N10,000. The remaining participants were given N2,500 each. 

Similarly, in the women’s table tennis category, the champion was awarded N20,000, while the runner-up received N10,000 in recognition of their efforts.

“It is evident that Kano has a solid foundation of unity, which has enabled its remarkable achievements.

This trend will continue under the visionary leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is aptly called the bridge-builder, peacemaker, and unifier,” Etefia said. 

He praised the governor’s passion for unity, stating, “Kano remains united, irrespective of religious, social, or political differences. There is no room for division.” 

Participants and winners expressed their gratitude to the Kano State Government and the One Kano Initiative for organizing such a well-executed and unity-focused event.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Gambo Ali Muhammad, a coach, said, “This is a great success for us and the people of Kano. We are truly excited and proud. The organizers did an excellent job.” 

The Unity Games were sponsored by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, with additional support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, KANIVEST, One Geria Services, Mamuda Group, and other partners.