One Year of Transforming Nasarawa State Football: Chairman Usman Salisu Galadima’s Milestones

Usman Salisu Galadima’s emergence as Chairman of the Nasarawa State Football Association on November 4th, 2023, marked the beginning of a transformative era for football in the state. With a clear focus, he overcame initial distractions and embarked on consultations with stakeholders across the 13 local governments to form a united football body.

Galadima with Nasarawa State Governor prior to the Governor’s Cup Final

Galadima’s vision was to uplift football in Nasarawa State, and he started by visiting the Executive Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule, to present his administration’s blueprint. This move demonstrated his commitment to collaboration and transparency.

Galadima alongside other 20 state FA Chairmen in a group photograph with the Nasarawa State Governor

One of Galadima’s notable achievements was returning Nasarawa United to the elite league after their relegation in 2022. Additionally, his pet project, FC Basira, secured a spot in the second tier of Nigerian football and won the NLO/Afriskaut Championship.

FC after beating First FC of Lagos in the Final of the NLO/Afriskaut cup in Bwari Abuja

Key Achievements:

 

Promotion of Nasarawa United and FC Basira: Galadima successfully promoted Nasarawa United back to the NPFL and FC Basira to the NNL.

Nasarawa United line-up before the promotion playoffs Final against beyond limits of Ikenne

Governor’s Cup Revival: After a 15-year absence, Galadima reinstated the Governor’s Cup, which will now be played annually.

Referees’ Support: He supported referees’ registration with ₦1,000,000 for the 2023/24 season.

 

Grassroots Development: Galadima employed backroom staff, supported grassroots tournaments, and provided kits for stadium stewards and ball boys.

Ball boys with their kits on before the finals of the 2024 Nasarawa State Governor’s Cup Final

Other Notable Initiatives:

 

Live Streaming: Galadima introduced live streaming for FA tournaments, attracting over 10,000 viewers.

Team Expansion: He brought in more teams to participate in the NLO, including Wan Agara, Si14, and Uke FC.

Coaching Education: Galadima supported coaching education in Karu LGA, training 70 coaches.

Player Welfare: He prioritized player welfare, traveling with Nasarawa State teams to ensure their needs were met.

Galadima present the Nasarawa State Governor’s Cup Trophy to the Governor 📸:Chanjo Muhammed

Galadima’s mentorship has benefited several players, including Sunusi Ibrahim (CF Montreal), Galadima Mohammed (Nasarawa United), and Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa State), the current top scorer in the NPFL with 9 goals from 10 games.

Anas Yusuf the current highest goalscorer of the 2024/25 NPFL season

As a native of Kwandare in Nasarawa State, Galadima brings over a decade of football administration experience to the table. His revolutionary approach has transformed football in Nasarawa State, and the future looks bright under his leadership.

 

Galadima’s collaborative efforts with security agencies have also helped eliminate hooliganism from football. His legacy continues to grow, with two players from the Governor’s Cup earning spots in the Super Eagles’ CHAN preparations.

Usman Usman and Timothy Sule in the Super Eagles camp after impressive performance in the Nasarawa State Governor’s Cup

The first sports award night in Nasarawa State’s history was another milestone under Galadima’s leadership, celebrating the achievements of football stakeholders.

Victor Elias receives his awards as the best goalkeeper in the first Nasarawa State FA Awards night
Ochoche Ngbede receives his award as the highest goal scorer of the Nasarawa State Governor’s Cup during the first Nasarawa State FA Awards night
Wambai Hassan receives the plague for most outstanding player

In conclusion, Usman Salisu Galadima’s tenure as Chairman of the Nasarawa State Football Association has been a resounding success, marked by significant achievements and innovative initiatives.

Verified by MonsterInsights