By Danjuma Amodu
The people of Kogi East are celebrating a distinguished leader, father figure and retired but never tired statesman, Retired Colonel Babanawa, as he marks his birthday anniversary.
Leading the tributes, Michael Samuel Idoko (MSI), PDP candidate for Ogugu State Constituency, described the celebrant as an esteemed community leader whose life of honour, discipline and selfless service continues to inspire generations.
In a congratulatory message, Idoko said: “May Almighty God continue to bless you with sound health, renewed strength, divine wisdom, and many more fruitful years of impactful leadership and selfless service to humanity. May your wealth of experience continue to inspire generations and your legacy of honour, discipline and community development endure for years to come. Happy birthday anniversary, Sir! Long may you live in good health, peace and prosperity.”
While the birthday messages poured in, community stakeholders said the celebration goes beyond ceremony, pointing to Colonel Babanawa’s enduring impact on youth and community development in Igalaland.
Top on the list is his role in facilitating the enlistment of several sons and daughters of Igala into the Nigerian Armed Forces. Through personal mentorship, guidance and advocacy, he has assisted many young people to enlist in the Army, Navy and Air Force, opening doors to national service, employment and career progression for families across Igalaland. Many of his protégés are now serving in various formations across the country, a feat residents describe as a quiet but powerful contribution to human capital development and national security.
His second major impact is in sports development through the establishment of Babanawa Football Club (Babanawa FC), with its camp based at Igah in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. Beyond giving youthful footballers in Igalaland an opportunity to ply their trade, the club has become a model for inter-state relationship and integration. The team uniquely blends Igala talents with players mostly from Edo State and other states, creating a melting pot of cultures, styles and brotherhood. The mix has provided good exposure for both groups, fostering understanding, teamwork and national unity at the grassroots.
For Igala boys within the vicinity, the arrangement has been particularly eye-opening. Camping together at Igah and competing in tournaments within and outside Kogi State has shown them that they can travel, live and play for clubs in other climes, breaking the psychological barrier that football opportunities exist only elsewhere. It has also positioned Kogi as a budding hub for grassroots and national league football, where scouts and lovers of the game converge to spot emerging talents.
Tragically, the club lost one of its budding talents from Okpo, Richard Jacob, believed to be a shining light, who died in an accident involving a reckless driver at a point between Akure and Lagos while on a trip with the team for a national league match.
Several players who passed through Babanawa FC have gone on to feature for bigger clubs and participate in scouting programmes, while the club continues to keep many youths away from crime and social vices. As Igalaland marks his birthday, many say Colonel Babanawa’s dual legacy of building soldiers for Nigeria and building footballers for the future remains a model of post-service leadership worthy of emulation.
