Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has officially renamed the Kano State Sports Institute and the Kano Sports Commission in honour of 22 athletes who lost their lives in a tragic road accident in May 2025.
The athletes were returning from a national sports festival when the fatal crash occurred along the Kano-Zaria expressway. Most of the victims were young talents who had represented the state in various sporting events, sparking widespread grief and sympathy across the country.
Speaking at a ceremony held at the Government House in Kano, Governor Yusuf announced that the institute would now be called the Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Institute, while the commission would be renamed the Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Commission, as a lasting tribute to the fallen sportsmen and women.
The announcement was first reported by the BBC Hausa Service on Sunday. Governor Yusuf described the gesture as a way of ensuring that the memory and contributions of the deceased athletes remain forever etched in the history of Kano State.
“These athletes brought pride to Kano, and it is fitting that we remember them forever. We won’t forget their sacrifices for the state,” the governor said during the event.
The renaming of both institutions is seen as a symbolic move to honour the late athletes’ dedication and commitment to representing Kano on the national stage.
