MEDIA
The Kayode Tijani That I Knew! –
TRIBUTE BY ISRAEL TOPE AGBOOLA.
In 1986, amidst our quest for knowledge, we found ourselves united in the halls of school during our HSC A/Levels in Lagos.
At that time, it was undeniable that your passion for football and novels burned brightly. A year later, you embarked on a journey to the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, while I set my sights on the University of Lagos.
You had to navigate the journalism landscape, making your mark in various outlets such as The Guardian, Complete Sports, Fame Magazine, Channels Television, and independent production.
However, our paths did not intersect during this period. It wasn’t until a cold morning in December 2002 that our lives intertwined once again.
You were part of a media delegation led by Dr. Amos Adamu that visited AIT in Lagos. Coincidentally, I had just finished presenting Kakaaki Sports News, and we unexpectedly crossed paths at the studio entrance.
It was a moment of pure joy. Soon after, you visited my home and formed a lasting friendship with my late younger brother, Dr. Julius Ibukun Agboola.
Fate had another surprise in store for us as we ran into each other again in London in 2006. While I was stationed at the BBC office in Bush House, Aldwych, you would regularly stroll down from the BEN TV studio in Tottenham Court Area to meet me.
By then, you had finished your programme, ABC Sport. Often, we would sit in one of the cafés near the London School of Economics.
Our conversations would barely begin before fans recognised you and showered you with praise. It came as no surprise when Dr. Mumuni Alao visited London and compared your popularity to that of Michael Jackson every time you ventured out together.
Together, we conducted numerous captivating interviews with sports stars like Kelly Holmes, David Hayes, and Eniola Aluko.
Kayode, you were a wealth of knowledge, shining like a thousand stars, leaving those we interviewed in awe. I attended many of your programmes on ABC Sport alongside Wunmi Lily’s Mum Thomas and your friend, Akeem Oyetunji.
Not long after, a Christian television station called Revelation TV headhunted you. They did not care about your Muslim faith, as the station’s founder, Howard Conder, assured me that “Kayode is a good man.”
Though accolades followed you wherever you went, there was a persistent desire within you to relocate your family abroad.
One evening, as we strolled from my place on Kennington Road, Waterloo, you shared your plans to establish a Sports Archive in Nigeria, bringing you closer to your loved ones.
Our conversation consumed us as we unknowingly passed Holborn Station. Astounded by the distance covered, we decided to conclude our discussion at your place in Shoreditch.
Just a month later, you were back in Nigeria. Since your return, there was a slight drift between us as our communication significantly decreased, especially before you fell ill.
Your memory would resurface whenever Cable News ‘Kisu Sulola, the sister of my friend and former room-mate at Unilag, Bidemi Sulola, called inquiring, “Have you heard from your friend?”
Unfortunately, the news of your passing reached me this week after Nigeria’s victory over South Africa in the ongoing AFCON 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire.
I will forever be grateful for your help and support during the passing of my brother and your dear friend in 2016.
It was you who inspired me to establish the Dr. Julius Ibukun Agboola Endowment, which continues to provide support for the best-graduating student in Marine Science at the University of Lagos.
Thank you for the time and unforgettable moments we shared. I will not shed tears because it is over, but instead, I will smile because fate allowed it to happen. Please convey my deepest regards to my brother and your friend, IBK.
May the just man find eternal rest.
Dr Patrice Motsepe, who was returned unopposed as CAF president on Wednesday in Cairo, has had his first term in office documented.
According to the CAF publication, Motsepe will build on the extensive progress he made during his first term to make African Football globally competitive.
Dr Motsepe’s objective when he first took office in March 2021 was to make African Football self-sustaining and drive growth in several different spheres. The last four years have seen CAF move its development agenda forward at pace with many historic firsts.
These achievements are contained in a publication to mark Dr Motsepe’s first four years as President, titled, ‘The Growth and Success of African Football Continues’, which media can download here
The magazine walks us through Dr Motsepe’s 10-point plan when he took office, and the wide-ranging advances that have been made towards reaching and surpassing his objectives.
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The Organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Awards have announced a new date for the ceremony.
The award ceremony will now come up on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, at the same Eko Club venue
Frank Ilaboya, the Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville, announced the change in a release issued this morning.
“Yes, the ceremony will now hold on the 3rd of April. The earlier date of March 21st, coincides with the Super Eagles World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda in Kigali.
“We all know how important that fixture is to Nigeria and Nigerians and it’s only fair for us, as stakeholders in Nigerian sports, to join others to support our Eagles.
“Besides the huge support for the Eagles, many of our Awardees and top dignitaries have also called to inform us of their trip to Kigali to be part of the historic match.
“Based on the above, the Organising Committee decided to shift the ceremony to April 3rd, 2025.
“We have also communicated this to the awardees and our invited guests to kindly bear with us on this unavoidable change while regretting any inconvenience this might have caused them,” Ilaboya added.
This year’s ceremony, the 5th in the series, will be held under the Chairmanship of Arise TV Anchor, Oseni Rufai with the rave making Cricket Federation President, Dr Uyi Akpata, as the Sports Personality of the Year.
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The initiator and financier of the first-ever boxing league in Africa, Omolei Imadu, is happy that his noble efforts at reviving Nigerian boxing are getting the required attention.
Imadu, who was reacting to his nomination as the Sportsville Innovative Personality of The Year, said he cherishes recognition from reputable organisations like Sportsville.
“I want to thank Sportsville for this recognition. I never saw it coming. For a reputable organisation like Sportsville to recognise our efforts in less than two years of operations means a lot”.
“You can understand why I cherish this award. It’s a big motivation for me and my team”.
“I want to assure you that the best of the Yucateco Boxing League is yet to come.
“We are determined to bring the glory days to Nigerian boxing and appreciation like this will continue to motivate people like us,” says the President of the Boxing Promoters Association Of Nigeria (BPAN)”.
Yucateco Boxing Promotions under Imadu’s leadership started the first ever boxing league in Nigeria two years ago and today the country’s boxing ecosystem is agog.
Boxers and officials continue to heap praises on the outfits CEO Imadu for his innovation saying that Nigerian boxing will witness a new lease of life.
In the words of Babatunde Ajose, Commonwealth Boxing Champion.
“Yucateco has brought the vibes back to boxing and the boxing community is grateful to him.
“From what we have seen of the boxing league, very soon, it will compete with the football league in Nigeria.
“The followership has been massive, big kudos to the financier and initiator Imadu for doing this for our beloved nation”.
“If we have people like him at the helms of affairs of boxing, the sky will be our beginning,’” he added.
Imadu is the second Nigerian to win the Prestigious Sportsville Innovative Award, created to reward and appreciate excellence and creativity.
Jenkins Alumona, the Managing Director of Flykite Promotion won the award last year for coming up with the highly successful Super 8 League held in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the organisers have listed award-winning referee, Linus Mba, Marketing guru, Rotimi Pedro, Sunny Osa Adun, the Founder of Nigeria’s first ever Sports TV Station and Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah to receive awards in the Icon Category.
This year’s ceremony comes up on Friday, the 21st of March, 2025 at the Eko Club, Surulere Lagos
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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