By Sam Israel JP

There are sporting events, and then there are defining moments—moments that say something deeper about a people, their values, and the direction in which their society is heading. The ongoing Keffi Polo International Tournament is one of such moments. For ten years, Keffi has not only hosted a polo event; it has nurtured a vision—one that blends sports, philanthropy, culture, and leadership into a single unfolding story.

Polo’s history reaches back thousands of years to ancient Persia, where kings and warriors sharpened their skills on horseback. Over centuries, the sport traveled across continents, became a symbol of prestige, and eventually arrived in Nigeria through early cavalry officers. But its evolution in Nasarawa State is a different story altogether. Here in Keffi, polo has taken on a life of its own—not just as a sport, but as a force for development.

This year’s tournament, which began on November 25th and ends on November 30th, has transformed the Keffi Polo Ranch into a vibrant hub of culture, tourism, and hospitality. Every day has seen a surge of visitors from across Nigeria, proof that Keffi has become a national destination. That economic energy doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because someone envisioned what Keffi could be. The vision carrier is the high ranking Distinguished Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (Sarkin Yakin Keffi).

The array of teams across Nigeria and international at this year’s tournament—Watson Global, El Amin, Dulue, Black Kuts, Haske and Williams, Trapco Ranch,, MAG Group, MSKN LTD, Red Crown, Rubicon, Keffi Polo Ranch Team, and others—reflects not only competition but confidence. Confidence that Keffi is worth investing in. Confidence that the sport is growing. Confidence that Nasarawa has something powerful to offer the world.

Matches like Trapco versus Robicon are no longer just games; they are spectacles. With athletes like Abdul Malik Badamasi, Alhaji Aliyu Tijani, Jata Ali, Senator Wadada, Modibo Abubakar Aliu-Wadada, Abdul Badamasi and George Canbel Wilson demonstrating skill and determination, spectators are reminded that greatness often emerges when passion meets opportunity. And that opportunity is what the Keffi Polo Ranch has consistently provided for a decade.

It is also impossible to discuss the growth of this tournament without acknowledging the unwavering support of Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC. For ten years, they have stood behind this vision. Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu’s decision to name the newly constructed pavilion after George Coumantaros is not just symbolic—it is a statement about honor, partnership, and gratitude in a society that often forgets its builders too quickly.

Yet perhaps the greatest story emerging from this year’s tournament is the one that touches the lives of children across Nasarawa State. One hundred and thirty thousand exercise books—ten thousand per local government—are set for distribution during the grand finale. This isn’t charity for cameras; it is an investment in the future. In a world where many leaders talk about education, this gesture demonstrates commitment. It shows that polo in Keffi is as much about empowering young minds as it is about scoring goals.

This year also marks a decade of the Emir of Keffi on the throne, and plans for a special tournament in his honor next December add yet another layer of cultural pride and continuity. Polo in Keffi is no longer an imported aristocratic pastime; it has become woven into the social fabric of the community.

The twice-yearly structure of the tournament—April for supporting orphans and vulnerable children, November for promoting education—reveals a deeper philosophy. It suggests that sports can be a social engine. That entertainment can coexist with empathy. That leadership is not measured by titles but by the lives one improves.

And leadership is indeed at the center of this story. Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, who has served both in the House of Representatives and now in the Senate, stands out as one of the few public figures whose philanthropy is consistent, structured, and vision-driven. Through the Keffi Polo Ranch, he has shown what it means to use personal initiative for public good.

His admiration for Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule—whom he describes as one of the finest administrator the State has known – reveals another important traits in humility. A leader who respects legacy is one who understand continuity. And as discussions about 2027 intensify many across Nasarawa see in Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu not just a politican but a developmental thinker, someone equipped with experience, structure and public trust.
The Keffi Polo Tournament has therefore become more than an annual sporting tradition. It has become a reflection of emerging leadership, a testament to what private initiative can achieve, and a preview of the kind of governance many hope to see in the future. In celebrating polo, we are also celebrating vision, generosity and the possibilities that lie ahead for Nasarawa State.
As the entertainment galore tournament approaches it’s grand finale, one truth becomes clear, what is happening in Keffi is not merely the celebration of sports but the sharping of a legacy. A legacy built on service, compassion, and the belief that progress is possible when leaders choose to lead with purpose.

Sam Israel JP is the Senior Special Assistant SSA on media to Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu.