Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the naming of several old and new legacy projects in the state after historic leaders and notable figures, highlighting their contributions to Nigeria and the state’s development.
Among the key projects, the multibillion-naira Civil Service Clinic project will be named after Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The First Lady is also set to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the project during her official visit to Kwara State, scheduled from January 28 to 30, 2025. During the visit, she will also inaugurate other landmark projects, including the ICT Centre at the Kwara State University of Education, built under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of her office.
Other legacy projects to be inaugurated by the First Lady include the Unity Flyover, the ultramodern Intensive Care Unit, the Executive Ward, and the General Tunde Idiagbon Flyover, named after the late military leader from Kwara State. Additionally, the road leading to the flyover will now be called Tafawa Balewa Road in honor of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, who was assassinated during the January 1966 military coup.
The governor also approved the following name changes to recognize significant contributions:
The ICT Centre at the Kwara State University of Education will be named after Dr. Amina Ndalolo, a former Minister of State for Health.
The Executive Ward at the Kwara State Teaching Hospital will honor the late Dr. Amuda Aluko, a renowned physician and politician.
The first Kwara State Secretariat will now be called the Brigadier General David Bamigboye Secretariat, in memory of the first military administrator of the old Kwara State.
The new Kwara State Secretariat will be named after Rear Admiral Muhammed Alabi Lawal, a former governor of the state from 1999 to 2003.
The Kwara State Stadium Complex will be renamed Major-General George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to sports, the stadium’s main bowl will be named after the late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, celebrated for scoring Nigeria’s first World Cup goal and holding the record as the country’s highest goal scorer.
Additional sports facilities within the stadium have also been renamed:
The Table Tennis Arena will honor Atanda Musa, a national table tennis champion in 1979.
The Indoor Sports Hall will be named after Gabriel Babatunde Ladipo, the first black principal of the Government Technical Training School, Ilorin, and a pioneer in sports development.
The Squash Court will bear the name of Coach Bolakale Mogaji, the first national champion and executive chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission.
The KFA Academy will be named after Coach Usuman Adenuja, who led the Kwara Academicals to the finals of the Academical Football Competition and coached the governor himself.
Hostels within the stadium complex have also been renamed:
Hostel A will honor Salihu Ishola, the first Kwaran to win a Commonwealth Games medal.
Hostel B will be named after Bolaji Eniola, a Paralympic badminton bronze medalist.
Hostel C will commemorate Bola Esan, the first female director of sports in Kwara State.
This initiative underscores Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment to celebrating individuals who have significantly impacted the state and the nation.
