By Muzammil Dalha Yola
The Director General of the National Productivity Centre of Nigeria, Dr. Baffa Babba Danagundi, has donated a total of ₦8 million to support football development in Kano State. The donation includes ₦6 million for the registration of CAF A Licence for coaches and ₦2 million for Kano football veterans and families of deceased members.
The pledge was made on tuesday 18th August 2026 during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Kano football veterans led by Umar Hussain, popularly known as Umar Serious. The delegation, in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Kano State Chapter NFCA Kano Chapter under the leadership of Barrister Ibrahim Gwadabe, presented a request for financial support to assist coaches with the cost of CAF A Licence registration.
Responding promptly to the appeal, Dr. Danagundi approved a grant of ₦6,000,000 to cover part of the registration fees for three coaches. Under the arrangement, the beneficiaries will jointly contribute the remaining ₦3,000,000, with each coach paying ₦1,000,000 to complete the requirement for the CAF A Licence. In addition, he donated ₦2,000,000 to support Kano football veterans and the families of deceased members of the football community. He will also do his best through the appropriate channels to forward their request for a courtesy visit to His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Speaking on behalf of the coaches and veterans, Magistrate Ibrahim Gwadabe described the gesture as timely and unprecedented. He said the intervention will ease the financial burden on coaches seeking to upgrade their qualifications and enable them to contribute more effectively to youth development through football in Kano and beyond.
Stakeholders noted that the donation further demonstrates Dr. Danagundi’s passion and commitment to empowering teeming youth and advancing football at the grassroots. They added that investing in coaching education is critical to raising the standard of the game and producing players who can compete nationally and internationally.
In prayers offered at the end of the visit, the delegation asked Almighty Allah to reward Dr. Baffa Babba Danagundi abundantly, grant him sound health, honor, protection, and continued wisdom and strength to serve humanity. They described him as a true patriot whose support for sports continues to inspire hope among young people in Kano State.