FCC Chair Ayo Omidiran Mourns Former NFA President Ibrahim Galadima, Hails His Lasting Legacy

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former President of the Nigeria Football Association (now Nigeria Football Federation), Ibrahim Galadima, who died in Kano on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the age of 78.

Omidiran, a former elected member of the NFA Board during Galadima’s tenure between 2002 and 2006, recalled her close working relationship with the late Kano State-born sports administrator. She noted that his contributions to the growth of Nigerian football remain enduring and invaluable.

“The passing of Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima is a great loss not only to Nigerian football but to the entire sporting community. He was a man of immense wisdom, discipline, and integrity, whose leadership helped shape the structure and direction of football administration in Nigeria,” the FCC boss said.

Omidiran further recounted that the period of their stewardship witnessed remarkable progress for Nigerian football on the global stage, describing his legacy as one built on selfless service, integrity, and a deep passion for youth and sports development.

“I had the privilege of serving on the NFA Board under his leadership between 2002 and 2006. It was a period of strong institutional direction and achievement, during which Nigeria rose to become the ninth-ranked football nation in the world. That milestone reflected the collective commitment, vision, and discipline that defined his leadership,” she stated.

“Alhaji Galadima dedicated his life to the advancement of sports in Nigeria. His contributions went beyond football, touching lives and institutions across the country. His legacy will remain a guiding light for future generations,” she added.

The former Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Development Committee extended her condolences to the family of the late sports icon, the government and people of Kano State, and the entire Nigerian football community.

“On behalf of the Federal Character Commission, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the Nigerian football family. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah Firdaus and give all those he left behind the strength to bear this great loss,” she prayed.

The late Galadima’s distinguished career included service as Chairman of the Kano State Football Association, Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council, First Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, and Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Kano State.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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