SPORTS PERSONALITY: There’s need for good legislation to move sports forward in Kwara – Warah

Engr. Sulyman Warah is a former member of Kwara State House of Assembly, and also the current Chairman of Kwara State Badminton Association. In this Interview with MIKE ADEYEMI he speaks on the need for even budgetary provision for all sports as well as the urgent needs for enactment of law to move sports forward in Kwara State.

As an Engineer, why the passion for sports? 
To the best of my knowledge, engineering and sports have correlations. As an active engineer, you have to love sports. The two have something in common.
Along the line I picked interest in badminton. I must play badminton at least three times in a week. That is how I balance my activities.
What has been your commitments to sports as an individual, and now as Chairman of Kwara Badminton?
Well, I wouldn’t want to say that I have done this or that. I wouldn’t want to blow my trumpet by myself, rather I think it is the prerogative of the people to assess me.
But, all I know is that if I have not been contributing in my own little way, I don’t think people would put me forward to be chairman of  Kwara State Badminton.
I have held the post of vice president of the association for several years. If I have not been found worthy, I wouldn’t be elevated to be the chairman.
I think I have tried much for people to have allowed me to lead Kwara State Badminton Association.
What are your plans for the growth of Sports and upcoming stars in the State?
We have technocrats at the helms of sports administration in the state.
These sets of people that are saddled with sports know very well that the state government can’t remunerate us for our effort.
For example, when we had our inagural lecture, the members alone contributed almost a million naira. You can see that zeal!
That is to tell you that people have passion for the game and are ready to ensure that the game is uplifted.
So,  with that singular act, I want to believe that is how sports should be supported.
As a former member of Kwara State House of Assembly, what law do you think can be proposed to fast track sports development? 
Honestly, this is a good question. We need good legislation to move sports forward.
Without trying to down play any particular sports, I think the government of the day should not fund a particular game at the detriment of others.
There should be a legislation if not a policy that would at least compel the government to make a 50 per cent appropriation to be apportioned to other sports aside football.
As I’m speaking to you now, I don’t think I know the amount of subvention going to sports in Kwara State. Ditto at the federal level.
But I know of a particular game that adequate attention is given to by the government. If only a quarter of that attention can be given to other sports like volleyball, badminton and handball, it will go a long way to lift sports out of current lacuna.
So, if a legislation is in place, compelling a state to channel at least a quarter or 5 per cent of funding that go to football to say badminton, handball and others, sports will go beyond what we are seeing now.
Without proper funding, there is no way these sports can really excel. If a law is enacted to mandate State and Federal Government to have even balance of funding to all starters of sports, then there will be geometric growth in sports development.
Just like I have just told you of how Kwara badminton association, having realised that there is no way we can source government fund, and we have our own tournaments to sponsor and the funds are not forthcoming – we look for the lovers of the game and they contribute to the game.
If we have an Act that compels the state to give 10 per cent of what is given to football to other sports association, I think they have no cause not to perform.
So,  except we have such Law on ground, that is the only way sports can be moved forward in the country.
How would you rate badminton development in Kwara State? 
Sincerely speaking, Kwara State is blessed with stakeholders. From the Director of Sports who happened to be one of the finest badminton player we had in the state, to Kehinde Jimoh the current director of KFA and even to coach Bello.
I’m a regular face in Kwara badminton, I know what he did to ensure that our athletes get required uplift without any external support.
There is no how you mention badminton in Nigeria without mentioning Kwara. In fact, Kwara is badminton, badminton is Kwara.
As a matter of fact, by next week we will be in Rivers state, and out of the numbers of Nigerian players that will participate at the event, six are from Kwara State.
Sincerely speaking, regarding badminton in Nigeria – Kwara has been doing pretty well.
How do you relax? 
I relax with the game, badminton. The game is everything to me. Basically, I relax with through badminton.