By Ibitoye Shittu

People call him the Dean of the Sports faculty based on his achievements and ways he painstakingly made name for himself locally and internationally.

As far as Sports is concerned in Nigeria, there is no land where the name “Bayour Issah” is not known or heard, thanks to his brilliancy, rugedity, and even if you decide to call him a god of Sports reporting, he worth it.

For those that don’t know who Mr. Bayour Issah, he’s one of the veterans in Sports Journalism in Nigeria.

Mr. Issah is the CEO of Sportspro International, a sports firm that has produced many great sports journalists and administrators. Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, Wale Mustapha, Shogo Shodunnke, yours truly and many more.

He’s one of the founding reporters of Complete Sports and Sports Souvenir.

On a Monday morning in Offa in the year 2004, I was in my Mum’s place of work then at the General Hospital where she worked for years as a Nurse…..she then turned on the Radio to Radio Kwara AM, and I started listening to a man vibing and disseminating local sports which inspired me excellently.

That was the day I made up my mind to become a Journalist and I also chose Sports as a beat I would move into going against my mum’s and dad’s interest of me becoming a Lawyer.

Initially, I wanted to become a Lawyer, but Bayour Issah’s excellent ways of reporting made me change my mind.

How will I also forget another role model called Jide Allen. He inspired me a lot and was the first man on earth to mention my name on air.

After listening to Bayour Issah on Radio Kwara 3 times, I later bought a private Radio device that I used to monitor his show and that of Jide Allen.

If you are a Kwaran or reside in Kwara and you’re lover of Sports, then you must remember years back that when it’s 7:45am on Radio Kwara AM, it’s time to listen to Jide Allen.

Making my first appearance on TV/Radio

In August 2006, I got a call from Bayour Issah who invited me to come to Radio Kwara for Sports analysis. I was in cloud 9 that day and I rushed to my mum to tell her.

On that evening that I entered the Radio Kwara studio, I was very happy and sitting beside me was a very young and agile man (Wale Mustapha) whom we later became close friends.

Bayour Issah also gave me my first ever appearance on TV which was on Kwara TV in which we both analyzed Sports together for 30 minutes in 2007.

Bayour Issah’s inspiration paved ways for me to start Sports Reporting on Okin FM when the station was newly created.

I started the first ever Sports show in Offa on Okin FM before SBJ Malawi and Wale Mustapha later joined me as Offa people, Kwarans and my fans would still remember how they used to on their radios by 7am Monday to Friday to listen to me.

Landing my first professional job

In July 2010, a Legend in Sports industry Emeka Enyadike reached me on Facebook after reading one of my articles that I posted on a Sports Group.

He then asked for my number and promised to call me. Enyadike called me on a Monday afternoon and introduced himself as the African Football Manager at SuperSport.

I was very happy and we started talking in which he later asked me to tell him who trained me.

I told Enyadike that Bayour Issah trained me and he was impressed.

He said:” Bayour Issah is my friend, but I have not spoken to him since I relocated to South Africa. Send me his number, and if it’s true that he trained you, I will hire you.”

I sent Bayour Issah’s number to Enyadike and they spoke and it was also a chance for two old friends to reunite.

Then, I was serving in Delta State and Emeka Enyadike said he would monitor me for six months in which he gave me many assignments to do.

After my NYSC, Enyadike hired me as a reporter for SuperSport.

SuperSport helped me to go places as I traveled to many nations covering Sporting activities.

It also gave me the chance to meet new colleagues like Sammy Wejinya and Andrew Randa who up till today treat me like their younger brother.

Bayour Issah is indeed a blessing not to only me, but to many generations.

The Dean of Sports worth getting a Statue at the Kwara state stadium in Ilorin.

Thank you Bayour Issah as my lineage will never forget you.

Ibitoye Shittu writes from Ilorin.

Ace broadcaster and former Olympian, Malam Hammed Adio stated this on Friday in Ilorin at a one day Seminar organized by the Kwara Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for its members at the Conference room of the Sports Council.

Adio frowned at the way quacks are taking over journalism profession due to social media liberty.

He challenged sports writers to distinguish themselves from mere facebook administrators by embarking on research and historical background of sports to report to guarantee accurate and correct information of the game.

The former Olympian implored SWAN members to be sensitive and avoid the use of negative and derogatory languages in their reportage.

He noted that fairness, truthfulness, balance are the hallmark of a good sports reporter as facts are sacred and opinions are personal.

Adio reiterated that the job of Sports reporters is challenging, demanding, exiciting and could only be fulfilling if taking with absolute seriousness and all sense of determination and commitment.

Earlier, the Chairman of Kwara SWAN, Malam Jimoh Bashir appreciated Malam Adio for devoting his precious time to tap from his reservoir of Knowledge and believed that members have learnt would be put to practice without further delay.

Bashir who was elated with the academic exercise presented by Adio later announced him as an Ambassador of Kwara SWAN.

Also Speaking, the Chairman of Education Committee of Kwara SWAN, Bayour Issah said the seminar was geared towards broaden the knowledge of members to enhance effective service delivery in their various media organisations and will be a routine exercise from time to time.

By Yemi Sodeeq

Sir Prince Thompson Oladimeji, the Patron of Kwara State Beach Soccer Association has been described as the strong pillar of the Beasal game in the State.

Speaking at an end of the year event organised by the Association on Wednesday 30th of December,the Chairman of Beach Soccer in Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulateef Adebowale Adedeji,said the patron’s support to the cause of developing the game has been overwhelming and worthy of note.

While presenting him with an award for his numerous contributions, the immediate past General Manager of Radio Kwara noted that the Business mogul has helped lubricate the onerous task of widening the horizon of Beach Soccer saying it’s a legacy that would forever be cherished.

Adedimeji who is also an advertisement guru revealed that Kwara State has been conferred the opportunity by the Beach soccer Union as first state to initiate female Beach soccer programme in the country and they will be having a tournament around April 2021 to incorporate female folks in to the trend of the game.

Chief Oladimeji in his remarks appreciated the Executive Governor of Kwara State ,Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for providing the leverage for the game to thrive restating his committment towards achieving it’s highest ideals.

The former Kwara United Chairman and a member of NNL congress applauded the association for it’s developmental drive as he also commend the press for giving Beach soccer the deserved mileage, awareness and publicity.

He called for synergy among all the stakeholders in the bid to achieve a sustainable growth for the game in the State.

Among many other things, Chief Oladimeji was acknowledged for his role in sponsorhip a Beach soccer tournament held in Lafiagi, Edu local government area of the State early this year ,kitting of the Kwara Beach soccer team and his efforts towards the team’s participation in Kebbi and Abuja Beach soccer competitions.

Other stakeholders at the event are Mallam Rasheed Oladimeji Saraki,the Coordinator of Beach soccer in Kwara State, Oba Suleiman , member of the Beach soccer female development committee, Sportspro News Publisher, Bayour Issah, Head of News and Current Affairs, Sobi FM, Adebayo Abubakar, Sportspro News Photographer,Ojomu Idowu and host of others.

The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Kwara State chapter is poised to expand the horizon of the game to all nooks and crannies of the State as the 2nd Kwara Scrabble closed champioship ends on Saturday, December 19th.

Speaking at the final event of the championship which held at the conference room of Kwara State Sports Council, Chairman of the association, Aliyu Olumayowa stated that the association will do more in raising the bar of the game and build a virile base for it’s development.

The Chairman, who said although Covid-19 pandemic affected some of their intended programmes under the year in review revealed that the association will roll out some initiatives in the coming year- among which are inter-collegiate, clubs and other several championships in a bid to stimulate huge participation .

“If not for Covid-19 pandemic,this year would have been flooded with Scrabble competitions, because myself and Coach had laudable plans for the game and that’s why we decided to at least  hold one before the year comes to an end”. He stated.

Aliyu, an immigration officer further disclosed that the two days closed champioship was organised to assess the strength of the existing players and discover new talents .

“Seven new players have been discovered and we are going to bring them on board – three of them were among  those that got the prizes and we also discover two players among six females that participated.”he concluded.

In his own remarks, Director of Kwara State Sports Council, Alarape Atanda commended the association for organizing the tournament which he said will boost the morale of the players ahead of the National Sports festival and other major tournaments.

Alarape urged the participants to concentrate more on the game with a view to improve their skills  while assuring them of the sports council support.

He also stressed the need to incorporate more female scrabble players in to the team regretting that the state couldn’t present any female player for the upcoming sports festival.

The champioship which last held in 2010 featured 22 players ;16 males and 6 females.
Shakirat Ahmed , who garnered the highest points to become the first in the  female category was  followed by an NTA reporter, Raliat Ibrahim and Promise Adeniran who won the second and third positions respectively with cash prizes inclusive.

Nagode Abiola, Shaba Stephen and Alli Kehinde had also respectively clinched the first to third positions in the male category with other 7 players towing behind them to make up the 10 prize awarding gifts positions.

The well attended final event was witnessed by personalities from all parts of Kwara state and beyond. They include, Mallam Jimoh Bashir, Kwara SWAN Chairman, Bayour Issah, Sportspro News Publisher, Gbenga Popoola, General Manager, NTA Ilorin , Patience Lawal, Head of Coaching, Kwara State Sports Council, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Ajimati, the Coach of Kwara scrabble team and a host of others.