Opinion: Kwara sports needs stability, not leadership vecuum

By Nicholas Uwerunonye

As Kwara United gears up for its CAF Confederation Cup campaign and the new Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) season beckons, this is hardly the time for a leadership vacuum in the state’s sports administration.

The expiration of Coach Bolakale Adisa Mogaji’s tenure as Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission comes at a delicate moment—and it exposes a critical structural gap that needs to be urgently addressed.

Coach Mogaji, whose four-year tenure ended on Sunday, confirmed the board’s expiration during a local radio sports programme.

His tone was modest, appreciative of the governor’s trust, and reflective of a term that, by many metrics, recorded visible milestones in Kwara’s sporting ecosystem.

Indeed, Mogaji’s era ushered in improved organisation, stronger talent development frameworks, and increased visibility for Kwara in national sporting events.

These achievements, however, now risk stagnating without swift and strategic leadership continuity.

It is understandable—expected, even—that the governor will appoint people he knows and trusts into public office. Political reality demands no less.

But to avoid the perception and pitfalls of favoritism, especially in a sector as sensitive as sports, appointments should be balanced with institutional safeguards.

This is where a properly constituted board and a Director General (DG), as prescribed by the National Sports Commission (NSC) model, becomes indispensable.

Such a structure offers continuity, reduces political friction, and ensures that sports development doesn’t hinge solely on political cycles or personal networks.

With a DG in place, the commission could maintain institutional memory, technical expertise, and policy direction—regardless of who occupies the chairmanship.

The timing of this leadership vacuum is particularly troubling. Kwara United is about to fly the state’s flag on the continental stage.

The team will need more than just financial support; it needs strong administrative backing, government liaison, and policy coordination—tasks best managed by a stable and empowered sports commission.

Leaving the commission leaderless at this crucial juncture sends the wrong signal, not just to athletes and sports enthusiasts, but to stakeholders, sponsors, and CAF observers who are watching how states manage their clubs and sports infrastructure.

Sports in Kwara is bigger than any one personality. It requires vision, structure, and continuity.

The governor has done well to appoint competent people in the past, but the future demands more than goodwill—it demands institutions that work, irrespective of who is in charge.

The way forward is clear: reconstitute the board promptly, and institutionalize the DG role as recommended by the NSC.

That is how we secure the gains of Mogaji’s tenure and ensure Kwara doesn’t lose momentum on the field—and off it.

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