By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse – Ahmad Zakari, Treasurer of the Royal Equestrian/Horse Racing Club in Dutse, on Sunday pleaded with corporate bodies operating in the state to assist in sponsoring their horse racing competitions.
Zakari told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that the corporate bodies and other good-spirited individuals should see such gesture as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He added that such sponsorship would help in developing the horse racing sport.
“Wealthy individuals, banks, construction and other companies operating in the state should invest in horse racing competitions.
“They should not leave the organisation of horse racing competitions in the hands of the clubs alone. They should complement our efforts.
“I am sure that by so doing our racers will develop to participate in competitions anywhere in the world,” he said.
The Treasurer further noted that the gesture would also make horse racing attractive to youths within and outside the state, and Nigeria at large.
“It will also serve as a platform to groom young racers to feed the club in future, by having younger ones to replace the ageing racers.’’
Zakari said the club would also need the assistance of corporate bodies to continue to organise horse racing, which it began since 1999.
“Sponsorship will enable the club to continue with horse racing in the state. We used to organise competitions four times a year.
“Usually, competitors from within and outside the country usually participate in such competitions.
“Clubs from Gumel, Daura, Birnin Kebbi, Kano and Zaria used to compete with those from Niger Republic, Chad and Sudan.
“Club members, horse owners, those from royal families and other interested individuals were allowed to participate in the sport,” Zakari said.
NAN reports that the Royal Equestrian Club with headquarters in Gumel Local Government Area of the state has the Emir of Gumel, Ahmad Muhammad, as its President.
Other executive committee members are the Emir of Daura, Umar Faruk, as Vice-President II, Dangiwa Umar, a former military governor of Kaduna State, as Vice-President III, and Zakari as National Treasurer/Secretary.