Ilorin, Nigeria — As Kwara State continues to seek new drivers of economic growth beyond the public sector, entrepreneur Mohammed Kabir Gobir has unveiled the Kwara Horse Club and Resort, describing it as a strategic investment aimed at expanding tourism, creating jobs, and stimulating private-sector activity.
The equestrian and tourism facility, located in Ogele, Asa Local Government Area, was presented at an interface with the Guild of Digital Journalists (GDJ) in Ilorin on February 6, 2026. Gobir said the project was conceived to address gaps in Kwara’s leisure and tourism infrastructure while positioning Ilorin as a destination for sports-based tourism.
Situated close to the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, the resort is designed to host polo tournaments and, in the near future, horse racing events, a development expected to attract visitors, athletes, officials, and sponsors from across Nigeria and beyond. The club is already a registered member of the Nigeria Polo Federation, enabling it to participate in organised competitions and national polo activities.
Gobir explained that sports tourism offers significant economic advantages, including increased visitor spending, longer hotel stays, and higher demand for transportation, food services, and informal trade. He noted that integrated facilities like the Kwara Horse Club and Resort help generate multiplier effects that benefit surrounding communities and small businesses.
Beyond sports, the resort incorporates hospitality and lifestyle amenities, including hotel accommodation, restaurants, lounges, viewing decks, horseback riding services, and event spaces for social and corporate functions. According to Gobir, this ensures year-round activity rather than reliance on occasional sporting events.
The project has commenced operations with over 20 horses already in training, offering services such as horse riding, leasing, and professional stable care. Plans are also underway to establish a veterinary centre and a digital platform linking animal owners to veterinary services, strengthening animal health infrastructure in the state.
Gobir disclosed that the resort is expected to generate over 100 direct and indirect jobs across horse care, stable management, riding instruction, hospitality, administration, and facility maintenance, with training opportunities targeted at youths and women.
He added that the initiative would support Kwara’s equestrian heritage by supplying trained horses for cultural events such as the Ilorin Durbar, while promoting modern standards of horse welfare.
“The goal is to build a sustainable tourism and sports ecosystem that contributes meaningfully to Kwara’s economy,” Gobir said.
