By Amos Mathew, kaduna
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Chairman of KADA Warriors FC, Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos, has been presented with an Award of Excellence by the Kaduna State Football Referees Council in recognition of his contributions to grassroots sports, youth development and community engagement across the state.
Presenting the award, Chairman of the Council, Sani Mohammed (FIFA Rtd.), described the honour as well-deserved, noting that the Commissioner’s unwavering commitment to football development and local government advancement is evident across the 23 local government areas.
He highlighted several achievements recorded under Hon. Lagos’ leadership, especially the establishment of KADA Warriors FC, which has expanded opportunities for young talents and repositioned Kaduna as an emerging football hub.
The Council also commended the Commissioner for championing the renovation of the Kaduna Township Stadium, an initiative driven under Governor Uba Sani to strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure and enhance community recreation.
They further appealed for deeper collaboration and presented key needs including officiating kits and technical equipment, improved logistics support, and the establishment of a functional referees’ secretariat to boost officiating standards across the state.
The delegation also requested the Commissioner to serve as the Grand Patron of the Kaduna State Referees Council.
Responding, Hon. Mamman Lagos expressed profound gratitude to the Council for the recognition, describing the award as a call to greater commitment.
He paid special tribute to his boss, Governor Uba Sani, whom he credited as the driving force behind the ministry’s accomplishments.
“I sincerely thank His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, for giving me the platform to serve and for consistently supporting our initiatives.
” His commitment to a secure, inclusive and youth-driven Kaduna guides our efforts, including the establishment of KADA Warriors FC, the renovation of Kaduna Township Stadium and the strengthening of the local government system,” he said.
Hon. Lagos reaffirmed his readiness to partner closely with the Referees Council and other sports stakeholders, stressing that football remains a powerful tool for unity, youth engagement and community development.
He assured them that their requests—ranging from materials to logistics and a secretariat would receive due consideration in line with the administration’s grassroots development priorities.
He also accepted the role of Grand Patron, describing it as a responsibility that aligns with his passion for football growth and professional officiating.
The Commissioner commended the referees for their integrity, neutrality and discipline, pledging sustained collaboration to build a stronger football ecosystem that reflects the values of fairness, excellence and community progress championed by Governor Uba Sani.