President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to preserving Nigeria's cultural heritage while promoting sports as a catalyst for youth empowerment, national unity, and economic growth.
These were the highlights of his address delivered by the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani at the grand finale of the second edition of the West African Horse Racing Derby in Kaduna.
"The preservation of our culture and heritage, alongside the pursuit of progress and development, is essential to national unity and nation-building," the President declared, setting out his administration's vision for revitalising horse racing as a strategic tool for national development.
President Tinubu traced the history of organised horse racing in Northern Nigeria to 1959 with the establishment of the Northern Territory Turf Authority, commending the foresight of the region's founding leaders for institutionalising the sport.
He stressed that reviving traditional sports such as horse racing would help bridge unemployment among young Nigerians, noting that the sport attracts a large youth population between the ages of 18 and 35.
According to the President, the Federal Government is leveraging the equestrian industry to promote youth engagement, discipline, entrepreneurship, job creation, livestock development, tourism, and private sector investment.
To support this vision, he highlighted the restructuring of Nigeria's sports administration through the dissolution of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and the operationalisation of the National Sports Commission (NSC), which is tasked with transforming sports into a sustainable economic sector.
He explained that the Commission is driving reforms aimed at attracting private investment, expanding commercial partnerships and sponsorships, establishing a Sports Infrastructure Development Fund to modernise sporting facilities nationwide, and strengthening integrity in sports through the implementation of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Act and the establishment of an independent National Anti-Doping Centre.
President Tinubu also commended the collaboration between the Federal Government and Kaduna State, citing the ongoing renovation of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium and planned interventions at the historic Zaria Horse Racing and Polo Club.
He urged state governments to allocate land to the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria to support the expansion of the sport, expressing confidence that Nigerian jockeys, horses, and breeders would soon compete successfully at elite racing events across Europe and the Middle East.
Speaking after the cups presentations, the National Coordinator of the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, popularly known as Sarkin Dawaki, expressed optimism about the future of horse racing in the country.
He attributed the renewed growth of the sport to the support provided under the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that horse racing had almost become extinct before recent interventions.
According to him, the federation has witnessed remarkable progress within a short period, positioning Nigeria to compete favourably with established horse racing nations around the world.
Alhaji Mustapha recalled that the maiden edition of the derby was held in 2022 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the reign of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, who serves as the Grand Patron of the federation.
He explained that the decision to expand participation to countries across West Africa was aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and elevating the competition to international standards.
He expressed confidence that the success of the Kaduna edition has laid a solid foundation for future competitions, assuring stakeholders that the third edition will feature a broader regional circuit and reinforce the federation's commitment to transparency, professionalism, and global best practices in horse racing.