The Kwara State government has recognised two key figures from the state and other prominent Nigerians by naming major facilities after them.
The Kwara State Stadium Complex in Ilorin has been renamed after the late Maj.-Gen. George Agbazika Innih (rtd), the second military governor of Kwara State.
Similarly, Rashidi Yekini, the legendary striker and the first Nigerian to score a goal at the FIFA senior men’s World Cup in 1994, was also commemorated.
The main bowl of the sports facility was renamed after Yekini. Both men passed away in 2002 and 2012, respectively.
Also, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was honoured as the multibillion-naira Civil Service Clinic project under construction in the state has been named in her honour.
The facility, which is being rebuilt as a state-of-the-art multistory health centre, will see its groundbreaking ceremony performed by Senator Tinubu during her official visit to Kwara State from January 28 to 30, 2025.
The First Lady’s visit will include the inauguration of several other projects, including an ICT Centre at the Kwara State University of Education, built under the Renewed Hope Initiative of her office.
She will also commission the Unity Flyover and new medical facilities, including an ultramodern Intensive Care Unit and Executive Ward.
The state government also honoured other historical figures, with the road leading to the General Tunde Idiagbon Flyover renamed as Tafawa Balewa Road.
Balewa was overthrown and murdered in a military coup on 15 January 1966.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State also approved the naming of the ICT Centre built under the Renewed Hope Initiative at Kwara State University of Education after former Minister of State for Health, Hajia Amina Ndalolo
The executive ward at the Kwara State Teaching Hospital will be named after the late Dr. Amuda Aluko.
Also, the first state secretariat is now to be called the Brigadier General David Bamigboye Secretariat in honour of the first military administrator of the old Kwara State, while the new secretariat is named after Rear Admiral Muhammed Alabi Lawal, who governed the state between 1999 and 2003.
Governor Abdulrazaq, similarly, approved for some other important state facilities to be named as follows: Table Tennis Arena is named after Atanda Musa (Manza Musa), who was a national champion in the games in 1979; Indoor Sports Hall is named after Gabriel Babatunde Ladipo, the first black principal of the Government Technical Training School Ilorin (GTTS), who was regarded as the father of sports in the state; KFA Academy is named after Coach Usuman Adenuja, the first football coach who took the Kwara Academicals to the final of the academic football competition. The governor was among his products.
Hostel A of the stadium is named after Salihu Ishola, the first Kwaran Commonwealth Games medalist; Hostel B is named after Paralympic badminton bronze medalist Bolaji Eniola; and Hostel C is named after Bola Esan, the first female director of sports.