Our Correspondent
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kano State Chapter, has commemorated the first anniversary of the tragic death of 22 Kano athletes who lost their lives while returning from the Ogun Gateway Games on May 31, 2025.
The association described the incident as a painful loss to the sporting community and the state at large, noting that the memories of the deceased athletes remain deeply etched in the hearts of sports stakeholders in Kano.
SWAN prayed for Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the departed athletes and to grant their families the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
In honour of the deceased athletes, the association called on the Kano State Government to immortalise them through lasting initiatives such as naming a sports facility after them or establishing a memorial in their honour, to preserve their legacy for future generations.
The association also urged the government to intensify investment in grassroots sports development programmes aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents across the state.
It further emphasized the need for improved and accessible sports infrastructure, describing it as key to the growth and development of emerging athletes in Kano.
SWAN called on athletes and stakeholders within the sporting community to remember the fallen sportsmen in their prayers and to organise tournaments in their memory as a way of honouring their contributions to the development of sports in the state.
“May the memories of these athletes continue to inspire excellence, discipline and passion within Kano State’s sporting fraternity,” the association said.
