Suleiman Abubakar has been elected Chairman of the Nigerian Polo Association (NPA), outlining an ambitious plan for his term that centers on creating a National Polo Centre in Abuja and elevating the Nigerian Gold Cup Open Tournament as the flagship competition.
Key takeaways
- Suleiman Abubakar was chosen as the new Chairman of the NPA.
- His top priorities include launching a National Polo Centre in Abuja.
- The Nigerian Gold Cup Open Tournament is set to become a fully established annual event starting next year.
- He believes Nigeria’s status in African polo requires the federation to host a major tournament.
- A fresh NPA Executive Committee was appointed to lead the association for the next two years.
Abubakar sets out Abuja centre and Gold Cup goals
Abubakar, who previously served as President of the Kaduna Polo Club, made his pledge soon after being elected at the NPA Annual General Meeting. The gathering took place at the Ibadan Polo Club in Oyo State.
Speaking to attendees, the incoming chairman described the Abuja centre and the push for the Nigerian Gold Cup Open Tournament as the “biggest” projects of his tenure. He said the Gold Cup is intended to run as an annual competition, with full implementation scheduled to begin from next year.
Abubakar also argued that Nigeria’s reputation as a leading force in African polo places a clear responsibility on the NPA to stage a standout event domestically. In his view, such a tournament should complement the yearly fixtures already held by the association’s accredited clubs.
He further stressed polo’s wider appeal, describing it as a major corporate sport with significant marketing value. He said the association must be prepared to deliver a major tournament of its own so that accredited clubs can carry out their individual seasonal events as planned.
Unity call and new executive committee announced
Beyond the competition and infrastructure targets, Abubakar urged players, patrons, private sector collaborators, and polo supporters to stay aligned in backing the game’s growth in Nigeria. In his acceptance remarks, he said polo is a sport that builds unity, strengthens confidence, encourages team spirit, and promotes discipline, adding that those involved should work to meet and exceed the expectations tied to advancing Nigerian polo.
At the AGM, the NPA also inaugurated a new Executive Committee to steer the association over the next two-year cycle. Henry Toby of Port Harcourt Polo Club was appointed Secretary General, while Muyiwa Sonubi of Lagos Polo Club took the role of Legal Adviser. Marzuq Fagbemi of Ibadan Polo Club was named Treasurer, and Aminu Gagare of Katsina Polo Club was included among the executive members.
