Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as well as the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have joined stakeholders to mourn the passing of Chairman of House of Reps Committee on Sports, Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams.
Adams, a former General Manager of Remo Stars and Kada Stars FC died in the early hours of yesterday after a protracted ailment.
Senator Enoh extended his deepest condolences during a visit to the home of the member representing Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency .
He said: “Honourable Ekene was deeply passionate about sports and played a significant role in the growth and development of sports in Nigeria. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Honourable Adams’ family. He was a sportsman par excellence who not only played the game but also administered and invested in it. We will miss his wealth of experience and the passion he brought to sports.”
Reflecting on their recent interactions, Senator Enoh added: “We were discussing Nigeria’s preparations for the Olympic Games, and he consistently demonstrated his patriotism and leadership.
“Honourable Ekene was a kind and gentle humanitarian, loved by all who knew him. His dedication to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria was solid, and his contributions to the house will be deeply missed.”
On the Minister’s entourage to the family on the condolence visit were permanent secretary in the ministry of sports development, Mrs Tinuke Watti as well as President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee(NOC) Engr Habu Gumel ,the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives amongst others.
Meanwhile, President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, in a letter he personally signed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, extolled the virtues of the late Hon. Adams, saying the deceased was “the leader of a very important committee in the House of Representatives and a man who was very much alive to his duties, tasks, assignments, obligations and responsibilities.”
“As someone who has worked in football all his life, contributing his quota to the development of the game on the domestic front, Hon Ekene Abubakar Adams was well-known to the entire football fraternity, and it was no surprise that he was very keen on further development of the game of football in the country while he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development.
“From serving and excelling as General Manager of Kada Stars Football Club of Kaduna to serving and accomplishing great things as General Manager of Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne, to his glorious political sojourn that ended with Chairmanship of one of the most important committees in Nigeria’s Parliament, the late Hon. Adams surely left his bold and indelible footprints in the sands of time, and departed with a legacy of distinguished service to the football industry and to the country’s legislative chambers.
“We all loved him, but God Almighty loves him much more. Rather than be thrown into dejection and sorrow, we must endeavour to celebrate Hon. Adams’ fruitful and fulfilled existence here on planet Earth.”
Gusau thereafter paid a condolence visit to the house of the late Hon. Adams, where he met with his mother and wife.
Meanwhile, a minute silence was observed at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in honour of the late House of Representatives member.
Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the NPFL, described the National Assembly member as a committed stakeholder in the country’s football.
Adams, who died at the age of 39 was until his death, the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports.
He also previously served as General Manager of the defunct Kada City FC that played in the NPFL and was General Manager of NPFL side, Remo Stars.
“Adams was very passionate about football, especially at the grassroots and was for a good period of time, an active stakeholder in the NPFL, “, Elegbeleye said in an emotion laden voice.
Similarly, the NPFL ‘s Club Owners Association of Nigeria has equally expressed shock over the death of Honourable Adams.
Chief Okey Kpalukwu, Chairman of the body, said in Abuja while condoning members of the football family.
“The sudden death of Hon Ekene Abubakar is devastating. He was vibrant and full of life. Someone who lived for the beautiful game as a player and as an actuate administrator.
“This is really sad. We pray that God grants the family he left behind the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
Also writing about the life and time of the late Adams was the leadership of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) who also expressed rude shock at the demise of House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Sports Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams.
SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, in a statement described Hon. Adams’ death as irreparable while commiserating with his immediate family, Football fraternity, National Assembly and the entire sporting sector.
“To say I’m sad about the demise of Hon. Ekene is by far an under-statement. I’m still shock and is unbelievable that a man of his calibre and quality is no more. Hon. Ekene who has been a long close friend of the sporting media is a man worthy of emulation.
“Sincerely, Hon. Ekene lived well within his short stay on earth. I really find it difficult to believe he is no more on this side of living. I pray that his good deeds on earth will keep his memories alive with all of us,” he said.
