By Usman Bature
Erstwhile secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Kano chapter, Abdulgafar Oladimeji has been conferred with the membership status of the International Arbitration Council.
The international headquarters of the council located in the Netherlands, in an official letter dated 1st November 2024 had confirmed his membership of the highly revered international body.
He would be tasked with functions in various committees, which include trade, commercial disputes, media, and technology.
Abdulgafar Oladimeji became an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration in 2013, he is privileged to have served as a member of the Panel of Neutrals, Kano –Multi Door Court, Kano state High Court of Justice.
He recently had the privilege to serve as secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Constitution Review Committee, and Kano Council Committee.
Abdulgafar had worked as a member of various mediation committees and fact-finding panels at the national, zonal, and state.
He recently served as the secretary of the mediation committee that was set up by NUJ Kano council to resolve the dispute between, Kano Pillars FC and sports journalists in the state.
A two-term assistant secretary SWAN Kano chapter, and one-term secretary( then dubbed as the most powerful secretary in the SWAN family)due to his commitment, focus, and vast wealth of knowledge in issues relating to sports trade unionism.
A well-traveled sports journalist with countless FIFA, UEFA, CAF, Concacaf, and AFC media accreditations in his kitty.
He is a sports journalist, PFSA, and IPSO-trained football scout, he holds qualifications in journalism, law, and philosophy from prestigious institutions in the US, UK, France, and Qatar.
A mentor, when quizzed by this reporter, simply said “ I come from a very strong background, where values are cherished, I am a strong believer in philosophy. I am a product of precepts, statutes, and ordinances.
“It may sometimes take time to understand my stands, I travel not too fast, and because of how I travel, many still find it hard to believe that I am the son of one of the first generation of management experts trained in northern Nigeria, alhaji Busari Alabi Oladimeji, who served with merit under late Sardauna of Sokoto and premier of the northern region, sir Ahmadu Bello.
“Alhaji my father, Justice Akanbi, Alhaji Adams, the renowned chartered accountant, I grew up watching them live a life worthy of emulation.
“Also, many can’t believe I am the son of the then Mrs. Oladimeji of West African Drugs, who was popularly called Madam Cafenol by the northern business community.
“many still find it hard to believe that I am deeply related and connected with one of the most successful businesses and academics in the US and UK, because of how I trek my path, it’s deep”
“no doubt I am from a traditional home from Offa both from my paternal and maternal heritage, I have been living my life and would continue to live my life, in the fear of herein and hereafter, that is the code, bro.”
“Why I told you this little story is because, where my elder brothers and sister opted for other fields and lived in the US and the UK, I chose sports and I always returned home, after my foreign trips, my father and mother believed me, I recalled the day my father and mother were discussing my issue, when I opted to do sports, though my mother would always warn me, she would say to me, Akanbi always be brave, fear Allah, then do your sports with education, my dream in sports was to see the world through sports and I think to some extent, I have seen the world, America’s, Africa, Europe, and Asia.”
“I will ever remain grateful to all those who have made it work for me, too numerous to mention, but would find time to write a special thank you in my upcoming work, titled Kano Boy, where I intend to mention all, I am human I make mistakes, in my dealings, but one thing is sure, I hardly repeat same mistakes.
“the task ahead is big, well, I have chosen the path and it is my duty to brave it to see how far I can go, promoting and projecting sports arbitration is my mission.”
