By Mohammed Baba Busu
The National Chairman, Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, says President Bola Tinubu is fully committed to reviving the horse racing in Nigeria for the nation to be at par with its contemporaries globally.
Dantata made the statement at the finals of the, “2025 Renewed Hope Horse Racing Competition in Zaria, Kaduna State on Sunday.
“President is undoubtedly committed to reviving horse racing in the North and Nigeria in general.
“This has been evident by his sustained support to all our activities,” he said.
According to Dantata, Tinubu has also been hugely facilitating ongoing efforts by the federation to make horse racing a truly national event.
The national chairman stated that the support of the president, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), had been serving as an elixir to do everything humanly possible to take horse racing to greater heights.
He commended the Chairman, NSC, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, for his efforts in ensuring the success of the racing competitions in Nigeria.
Dantata said, “we are aware that the president has serious respect for the northern traditions and also wants the unity of the north,
“That is why he is intensifying support for these activities that at more of northern tradition and Islam.
“We want to see horse racing becomes a national and an international event and the president and other critical stakeholders are our real motivators and benefactors in this direction.
“They include our indefatigable Grand Patron, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar Ibn-Umaru, Grand Patron 1; Emir of Zazzau , Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, Grand Patron 11”.
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who is also the Life President, among others, are also motivators.
Dantata explained that Nigeria was taking a lead in the sport in the comity of nations in Africa
According to him, “we are happy to be part of history and to have pushed to ensure that this has become a reality.
Five countries participated in the event: Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali.
“They are our international partners during racing events in Nigeria
Also, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, extolled Tinubu’s relentless efforts to bolster the sport in Northern Nigeria and the nation at large.
The Etsu Nupe said the federation was dedicated to promoting national unity and prosperity by bringing from various regions through a shared passion for equestrian activities.
Alhaji Abubakar noted that the efforts would be intensified to strengthen the cultural norms and values of the people through sports.
According to Abubakar, this has become necessary to prevent culture and traditions from going into extinction.
“The race, which is traditional in nature, further provided an opportunity for the display of culture and various cultural activities,” the royal father said
The Emir of Zazzau, in Kaduna state, Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu-Bamali, urged the federal and state governments and other stakeholders to accord top priority to horse racing in Nigeria.
The Emir urged that attention being given to football should be extended to other sports, especially horse racing in the country.
Nuhu-Bamali solicited for more funding, provision of facilities as well as the sponsorship of more local and international horse racing competitions.
“Sports bring people, communities and countries together, the derby will be sustained and replicated,” the emir who is also the Grand Patron 11 of the federation, added.
Tinubu’s ‘Hope Renewed Horse’, maintained its winning streak to clinch the first position as the fastest horse for the fifth time.
At the end of the epochal tourney, six cars were won, including the one clinched by Tinubu’s horse that maintained its title for the fifth consecutive time.
Six Toyota vehicles and N50,000 cash were presented to the first position winners of various categories of the race.
The second position winners got N700, 000 each while the third and fourth position winners received N500,000 and N350,000 respectively.
Also, a horse owner from the neighbouring Niger Republic garnered two cars while the emir of Zazzau’s horse carted away a car.
Similarly, tasty stable clinched two cars, while two horse owners from Barchi State and Kebbi each hauled a car.
Dignitaries present at the event included, Kaduna state Gov. Uba Sani represented by his Special Adviser on Traditional Rulers, Alh. Muntari Ibrahim (Jarman Zazzau), Speaker of the House of Representative, Tajudeen Abbas represented by Alh Lawal Sama’ila Yakawada (Chairman North West Commission.
Others are, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal represented by Alh. Mansur Salanke, while, Danmadamin Hadejia and Barnawan Hadejia, represented HRH Emir of Hadejia and Bauran Gumel and Walin Gumel represented HRH Emir of Gumel.
