A former Minister of Sports Bala Ka’oje has been confirmed dead.
Kaóje, aged 60 died Tuesday morning and has been buried in Abuja according to Islamic injunction.
The news of his death was revealed in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a while ago.
In a condolence message, conveyed by the media department of NFF said, “The Nigeria Football Federation expressed its shock and sadness at the passing of the former Minister, with the NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi describing the deceased as a dignified and unassuming public servant who showed great passion and interest in the development and improvement of Nigeria sports.
“Quietly intelligent, diligent and a man of high integrity, Ka’oje is on record to have conveyed to then NFA (for onward conveyance to world football –governing body, FIFA) in February 2007, the abrogation of Decree 101 hitherto governing the administration of football in Nigeria, and government’s recognition of the approval by then NFA’s Annual General Meeting of the Statutes and its standing orders as the sole regulatory instrument for football administration in Nigeria.
“In the letter dated 23rd February 2007, Ka’oje unambiguously stated that “the current board was elected under the current NFA Statutes and not under Decreee 101. This has shown complete democratization of the Association as specified by its Statutes. With this development, it means the Statutes of the Association has taken effect in line with FIFA directive and has assumed a level of supreme document and operational guideline regulating the operations of the Association.”
Born in Kebbi State on September 20, 1960, Bala Bawa Ka’oje earned a master’s degree in structural engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
His remains were interred on Tuesday afternoon.
The NFF was represented by the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi and Head of Member Associations, Ali Abubakar Muhammed.
