First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, have extended financial and material support worth N240 million to families of the 22 Kano athletes who died in a fatal road accident earlier this year.
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According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the First Lady donated N110 million through the Victim Support Fund, with each of the bereaved families receiving N5 million.
In a corresponding move, Governor Yusuf provided an additional N130 million, disbursed as N5 million to each deceased athlete’s family, and N2 million and a plot of land to each of the ten injured athletes. This is in addition to the state’s earlier support of N1 million to each bereaved family and N500,000 to each injured athlete, bringing the total state contribution to N152 million.
Speaking during a ceremony where the donations were handed over, the governor described the First Lady’s gesture as a “clear demonstration of compassion, leadership, and shared humanity.” He said the intervention significantly complemented the state’s commitment to supporting the victims and their loved ones.
Additional donations came from other stakeholders, including N32 million from the Ogun State Government, N20 million from the Jigawa State Government, and N2.2 million from Engineer Sagir Koki. In total, N321.2 million was raised and shared among the affected families, alongside 30 bags of rice and housing plots.
The funds were disbursed immediately by the Kano State Accountant General, with the Sharia courts assigned to oversee Islamic inheritance procedures. Each of the 22 families is expected to receive N6.7 million in the first tranche under the court’s supervision.
As a permanent tribute, the Kano State Government announced the renaming of the Kano Sports Institute in Karfi to “Kano 22 Athletes Institute.”
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved families, Alhaji Baffa Indabawa expressed deep appreciation to both Senator Tinubu and Governor Yusuf, describing the support as a “deeply consoling and dignified response” to their loss.
