The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Nura Sani Kangiwa, has emerged the President of Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF).
According to a press release signed by the Special Assistant to the Director General, Joesef Karim, the statutory biennial election of Executive Members of the Nigeria Polo Federation was held in Jos, last Saturday, days after the conclusion of Jos Polo International Tournament, which had participating teams from Africa and the Americas.
Nigeria Polo Federation is one of the apex groups of Polo stakeholders in the country that superintendent the game and is massively involved in the management of the sport, including international affiliations.
Nura Sani Kangiwa, fondly called NSK by fellow Polo players, won the exalted position of President of the Nigeria Polo Federation. It will be recalled that he just completed his tenure as the 2nd Vice-President of the Polo Federation – a position he held for two consecutive terms, in four years.
Nura is a prolific Polo player and the progenitor of the pathfinding NSK Polo Ranch and Resorts. He’s also the Patron of the famous Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, the leading Polo tournament and Cultural Tourism event in North-West Nigeria. The Argungu Polo tourney and Cultural fete held for the 7th consecutive year, earlier in September this year. The tourist-pulling tournament had participants from West African countries, including very senior government officials and captains of Nigerian industries.
The Nigeria Polo Federation election held in Jos, saw the emergence of eight officials to spearhead the affairs of the Federation for the next two years. The newly elected Executive Members include Nura Sani Kangiwa, President; Tanko Ayuba, 1st Vice President; Abdulkarim Jibril, 2nd Vice President; Murtala Laushi, Secretary; Usman Sa’ad, Treasurer; Haruna Ningi, Assistant Secretary; Aliyu Illela, Assistant Treasurer; and Mohamed Baba, Ex Officio 1.
In his acceptance speech, after winning the election and been declared the President of the Nigeria Polo Federation, Nura Sani Kangiwa said, “I have already seen the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment that you will all bring to the Federation. With your help and support, I will do my best to meet the challenges facing our Federation. I will also continue to go the extra mile in building the Federation, and carrying out the many worthwhile projects that we undertake for the benefit of our community.”
“In the same vein, I would also like to congratulate each of the new Federation members. Our Federation members have shown their confidence in YOU and ME by electing us to our respective positions, and I look forward to serving with you. Our Federation has been built on a strong leadership foundation, and I believe I am fortunate to have a membership that is fully committed to the Federation’s ideal. I have already seen the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment that you will all bring to the Federation. With your help and support, I will do my best to meet the challenges facing our Federation. I will also continue to go the extra mile in building the Federation, and carrying out the many worthwhile projects that we undertake for the benefit of our community.
“I am sure you are curious to know what exactly I hope to achieve during my time here, which is understandable. I do not lack for ideas or opinions, as you will come to know soon. For me, any vision for moving forward the Federation in order to be compelling and workable, must be a shared vision. That is why I will ask a lot of questions. Some of them, undoubtedly, will be annoying. But I promise that I will carefully listen to your answers. I have a lot to learn, and I will look forward to hearing both your concerns and your aspirations for the Federation, all in an effort to set a clear and compelling path for the next chapter in the life of this wonderful Federation
The newly elected President of NPF assured all members of the Polo community of his determination to turn a new page for the game and benefits of members.
He said, “I still want to expand the frontiers of Nigerian polo, thus I pledged to re-double my efforts in promoting Nigerian polo within the continent and internationally. It is my intention also to commission a 5-year Strategic Plan for the federation, This I think will provide guidance for me and future Federation presidents in terms of setting and achieving our goals”
Nura Sani Kangiwa, is the ‘Turakin’ Kebbi, a historic traditional title of ancient Argungu Emirate, in present day Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria. The Turakin Kebbi is equally the team lead of NSK Polo club with stables in Nasarawa and Kebbi States.
Polo in Nigeria is as old as the country, first played by European naval officers in the early years of the twentieth century. The game was introduced to Lagos in 1914 before spreading to Northern Nigeria. The rules of the game are managed by the Nigeria Polo Federation.
