Colour, excitement, and cultural pride heralded the coming of the maiden edition of the Kwara Horse Show. On Sunday, 16 November 2025, at the Sports Arena, Queen Elizabeth School in Ilorin, the arena overflowed with excited spectators to witness a historic opening of the event.
Present at the ceremony were high-ranking government officials, traditional rulers, and industry stakeholders, who expressed admiration for the skill and passion shown by young horse riders. The programme featured horse parades, women’s horse racing, horse drop ball, and horse ball competitions, among other fascinating activities that raised the standard of equestrian sports in the state.
Asmau Ibrahim topped the women’s horse race, while Habeebat Abdulganiyu emerged the winner of a magnificent horse through a raffle draw. In the keenly contested horse drop ball event, Sulaiman Aminu emerged the winner, and in a nail-biting match, Ilorin Emirate Horse Royal Heritage Team defeated Kwara Stallion 4–3 to secure the horse ball championship. The other outstanding performers and raffle winners went home beaming with sundry prizes.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, represented by Bola Magaji, Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, extolled the virtues of the organisers, saying that the horse show solidifies efforts at strengthening Ilorin’s rich cultural identity. He said this during the Ilorin Emirate Durbar, which has been held since 1930, as a meaningful display of history and tradition.
He added that the event serves as a reminder to younger generations of the heritage passed down by their forebears.
Chair of the main organizing committee, Dr. Jamilah Atata, hailed the show as more than a sporting spectacle, terming it the realization of a shared dream propelled by cooperation and hard work. She said the competition was destined to grow into an annual international event, with polo included in future events.
The convener of the initiative, Bolaji Magaji-Nda, extended his profound appreciation to the state government for sponsorship, and to the traditional leaders and partners for their invaluable support that ensured the huge success of the show. The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, represented by Alhaji Muhammad Jamiu Adebayo, the Magaji Ngeri of Ilorin, said the horse show was a way of protecting and promoting Kwara’s cultural heritage. Also speaking, the chairman of the day and Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye, said he would support the participation of the Kwara Horse Show team at Asa Day Worldwide International in Canada in August 2026-an event he has championed over the years both in Nigeria and in Canada.
