BEVERLY HILLS, May 11, (THEWILL) – The sports community in Nigeria has been thrown into mourning with the announcement that the Nigerian Triathlon Union (NTU) has suffered the loss of its Vice President, Cycling and Technical Director, Yinka Badare. He was said to have died in Ibadan, Oyo State after a brief illness.
The late Badare’s first port of call was with the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF). In 2004, he won elections into the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa where he served meritoriously till 2009, as treasurer.
As a foundation member of the NTU, the private sporting association made up of very experienced sports administrators, the late sports professional contributed to the growth of sports in every office he occupied where he demonstrated patriotic zeal and passion.
Reacting to the passing of the Vice President, founding President of NTU and NOC trustee, Dr. Lanre Glover, praised the late Badare.
Glover referred to him as a passionate sports administrator extraordinaire, who committed his life to uplifting sports in Nigeria in general and triathlon in particular, throughout his life.
This was confirmed when the late Badare received the highest honour in triathlon for his services to the sport and it was commendable that he was honoured while he was alive.
He died on April 2 and will be laid to rest in Akure, his hometown on Friday, May 21.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
