In a solemn tribute to the lives lost in a tragic road accident, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has renamed two major sports institutions after the 22 athletes from the state who died while returning from the National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Ogun State.
The athletes, part of the Kano State contingent, were on their way back home when their bus veered off the Dakatsalle bridge in Kura Local Government Area on May 31.
The crash claimed 22 lives, with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Mustapha Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, announced that the Kano State Sports Institute and the Kano State Sports Commission will now be known as the Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Institute and the Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Commission, respectively.
“These young athletes made Kano proud. They were heroes who gave their all in service to the state’s sporting glory,” the statement read.
The governor also assured that the state government will support the families left behind.
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According to the release, scholarships will be provided for the children of the deceased, while their widows will be enrolled in empowerment initiatives.
Parents of the unmarried athletes will also be included in the government’s support programs.
The gesture comes weeks after Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, donated ₦110 million to the families of the deceased athletes to ease their financial burden.
The renaming of the institutions stands as a lasting memorial for the young talents whose lives were cut short in pursuit of excellence and honour for Kano State.