By Aderonke Ojo
The Sports Arena of Queen Elizabeth School in Ilorin was filled to capacity on Sunday, November 16, as the maiden edition of the Kwara Horse Show took centre stage amid pomp and pageantry.
No better venue could have hosted the historic event than the first all-girls school in Northern Nigeria, founded in 1956 by the then Northern Region Government under the leadership of the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, and formally inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth in 1957.
The first-of-its-kind event drew top government functionaries, traditional rulers, and captains of industry, who were all treated to an exciting display of equestrian sports competed in a vibrant atmosphere by young and energetic horse riders.
From horse parade to female horse race, horse drop ball, and horse ball events, the Kwara Horse Show opened a new vista for equestrian activities, setting a benchmark for blending youth engagement with cultural heritage.
While Asmau Ibrahim edged other contestants to win the female horse race event, Habeebat Abdulganiyu clinched the grand prize of a beautiful horse during the raffle draw.
The fiercely contested Horse Drop Ball event was won by Sulaiman Aminu, while the Ilorin Emirate Horse Royal Heritage Team defeated Kwara Stallion 4–3 to win the thrilling Horse Ball event, widely adjudged as the most exciting contest of the day. Winners of the raffle draw and outstanding Horse Riders were also presented with fantastic prizes.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Mogaji, commended the organisers for initiating the Kwara Horse Show.
According to the Governor, the event complement the efforts to sustain the rich cultural heritage of Ilorin, tracing the history of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar to 1930, when it was first staged to celebrate the conquest of the Old Oyo Empire.
He explained that the Horse Show serves as a platform to refresh the memories of younger generations about the cultural traditions of their forefathers and assured the organisers that he would convey their request to host a polo event to the Governor, who has on several occasions sponsored polo events in Kaduna and Lagos.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Dr. Jamilah Atata, said the event was more than a sports show, describing it as the realisation of a vision built on collaboration, resilience, and shared purpose.
She noted that the programme stands as a testament to what can be achieved when visionary leadership, community support, and collective determination work together.
Atata added ‘I urge all stakeholders to stay engaged as we look forward to making the Kwara Horse Show an annual international event, with plans underway to introduce polo in subsequent editions.”
In his remarks, the Convener of the event, Ambassador Bolaji Magaji-Nda, thanked the Kwara State Government for sponsoring the event. He also appreciated the traditional rulers and partners for their support.
The Chairman of the occasion, the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye, who was visibly impressed by the standard of the event, pledged to facilitate the participation of the Kwara Horse Show team at the Asa Day Worldwide International event in Canada in August 2026—an initiative he has personally championed for years, held annually in both Canada and Nigeria.
The event attracted several top dignitaries, including the Emir of Ilorin, represented by the Magaji Ngeri of Ilorin, Alhaji Adebayo Mogaji; Alhaji Dr. Saliu Woru Muhammed, the biological father of the Convener and representative Prof. Olaolu Ali who is the Patron of the Kwara Horse Show and the Kuliyan Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate.
Others in attendance were the Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge; SSA on Communications, Mallam Abdullateef Ibrahim; CEO Lahmad Concept, Alhaji Ahmad Lawal; ACP Muhammed Mogaji-Nda; Retired AIG Adisa Bolanta, and host of others.