Ibrahim Galadima, a former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has died at the age of 78, according to reports.
His death was confirmed on Saturday by Sani Ahmed Toro, who said the veteran sports administrator died earlier in the day in Kano.
“I regret to announce the death of our respected Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former NFA Chairman, today in Kano. May Allah reward him with Aljanna Firdausi,” Toro said.
Galadima was widely regarded as a significant figure in the development of football administration in Nigeria, particularly during the era when the governing body was known as the Nigeria Football Association (NFA). He played a central role in shaping the organisational framework of the sport alongside other leading administrators of his time.
Born in 1948 in Fagge, in Kano State, Galadima began his career in sports administration at the local level. His early involvement saw him appointed chairman of the Kano State Football Association in the late 1970s, marking the start of a long and influential career in football governance.
He later advanced to become Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council, further cementing his reputation as a committed sports administrator. His work at state level laid the foundation for his eventual rise to national prominence.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Galadima held several key roles within Nigeria’s sports institutions. These included positions within the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, where he contributed to policy development and organisational leadership across multiple sporting disciplines.
His tenure in football administration coincided with a transformative period for the sport in Nigeria, as structures and systems were being formalised and strengthened. Alongside colleagues such as Toro, Galadima was part of a generation that helped guide Nigerian football through important institutional changes.
Although details surrounding his death have not been made public beyond the confirmation of its occurrence in Kano, tributes are expected from across the Nigerian sporting community, where he is remembered as a respected leader and administrator.
Galadima’s legacy is closely tied to the evolution of football governance in Nigeria, particularly during the years when the NFA was establishing its identity and operational direction. His contributions at both state and national levels are seen as part of the foundation upon which modern Nigerian football administration has been built.
Further announcements regarding funeral arrangements are anticipated in due course.
