Former Nigeria Football Association (now Nigeria Football Federation) president, Ibrahim Galadima, is dead.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Galadima, after a long battle with a protracted illness, passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 78 and was laid to rest according to Islamic rites on Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the news of his death was first confirmed by former NFF General Secretary, Sani Toro, who disclosed that the respected football administrator died in Kano.
“I regret to announce the death of our respected Alh Ibrahim Galadima, former NFA Chairman, today in Kano. May Allah reward him with Aljanna Firdausi,” Mr Toro wrote.
Calls for Unity Heightened As Odo Noforija Ultra Modern Central Mosque Commissioned
‘50 Minutes And 26 Seconds,’ Robot Beats Human Record To Win Half-Marathon In China
‘Barely One Week,’ Another Nigerian Found Dead In UK Apartment
Mr Galadima served as President of the then Nigeria Football Association between 2002 and 2006, a period marked by administrative reforms and Nigeria’s continued presence on the continental and global football stage. Before ascending to the top job, he had built a rich résumé in sports administration, including stints as Chairman of the Kano State Football Association and Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council.
He also served as First Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and was a member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee for stadia development ahead of the FIFA World Youth Championship, which was later staged in 1999 with Nigeria as host.
In an official statement, the NFF described Mr Galadima as one of Nigeria’s most respected sports administrators, noting his immense contributions to football development across several decades.
Here are seven things to know about Galadima
1. Born on 14 June, 1951, in Kano, Mr Galadima devoted most of his life to public service and sports development.
2. Between 1977 and 1979, he chaired the Kano State FA, before becoming Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council from 1981 to 1983.
3. In 1984, he was appointed to the caretaker committee of the National Sports Commission.
4. His public service career also saw him serve as Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports, and later as Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport in Kano State.
5. His involvement in national sports administration continued into the late 1980s and beyond, cementing his legacy as one of the key figures in the institutional growth of Nigerian football.
6. He was one of the founding fathers of Kano Pillars Football Club in 1990. He helped build the club into a dominant force in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and later served as its chairman.
7. Galadima was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in November 2011 in recognition of his significant contributions to the development of sports, specifically football, in the country.
NOP NIGERIA
