Kaduna, Nigeria — Arrangements are well underway for a groundbreaking regional competition, the Northwest Athletics Championship, set to be held in honor of the First Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Alhaji Abubakar Ladan Zurmi.
Isiaku Abubakar, the high-performance Technical Director of the newly-tagged Zurmi Athletics League Championship, confirmed that the event is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026 and is poised to be the first of its kind in Nigeria’s Northern region.
A Platform for Talent and Preparation
Abubakar, who also serves as the high-performance Technical Director for the Northwest region, stressed the dedication behind the preparations. “The preparation is going to be one of the best in the history of the region,” he said, “to make sure we put everything in place so as to get our athletes into shape.”
He highlighted the inspiration provided by Alhaji Abubakar Ladan Zurmi’s commitment to athlete development. “As his lieutenant, my principal… I know how passionate he has been to develop our athletes in the entire country,” Abubakar noted. “As a team, we’re always committed to put all our heads together to make sure our athletes contests with the other athletes in the whole Africa.” He further asserted that the North is a reservoir of talent capable of representing Nigeria in future international competitions.
Crucial Timing for International Events
Sani Mohamed, a national athletics coach, underscored the championship’s vital importance for athlete readiness. He stated that the Zurmi Athletics League will give athletes a crucial opportunity to prepare for key international fixtures.
“Basically now, we are preparing for the first quarter of next year, which is very important to prepare the athletes against the World Championship and Commonwealth Games next year,” Mohamed said. The coach, who also works with Police Athletics, praised Alhaji Abubakar Ladan Zurmi for his vision in revitalizing athletics in the North.
High Performance
Technical Director Northwest
(in white)
The commitment from the organizers suggests the Zurmi Athletics League Championship is set to be a significant addition to Nigeria’s sports calendar, aiming to unearth and prepare the next generation of Nigerian track and field stars.
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