Rasheeda Yahaya
By Ahmed Ahmed
Kirfi Local Government Area has emerged as the overall winner of the 2025 Bauchi State Sports Festival, following an outstanding performance that saw the council secure a total of 33 medals across various sporting events.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Adamu Babayo Gabarin, announced this at the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the festival, held at the weekend.
Represented by the overseeing Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, the commissioner disclosed that Kirfi clinched 21 gold, four silver and eight bronze medals to retain its top position on the medals table.
According to him, Darazo Local Government finished in second place with an impressive haul of 25 medals, comprising 13 gold, three silver and nine bronze medals. Ningi Local Government followed closely in third position after winning eight gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals.
Alhaji Gabarin revealed that the week-long sports festival attracted 553 athletes drawn from 12 local government areas of the state.
He added that the athletes competed in more than ten sporting events, with a total of 450 medals won by both male and female participants.
The commissioner congratulated winners across all categories and encouraged athletes who did not make the podium to intensify their training and preparations ahead of subsequent editions of the annual sports fiesta.
He described the festival as a critical platform for discovering and nurturing indigenous talents capable of representing Bauchi State at higher levels of competition.
He further commended the athletes and their officials for exhibiting a high level of discipline, maturity and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
Alhaji Gabarin also expressed appreciation to Governor Bala Mohammed for his consistent support to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, as well as the 20 local government councils for their financial contributions and active participation.
Events featured during the festival included athletics, football, volleyball, basketball, handball, table tennis, kokawa, dambe and langa, with exhibition displays in gymnastics, cycling and arm wrestling, adding colour and excitement to the competition.
