A member of the House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, Ekene Adams, has died at the age of 39.
Adams, who was Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, died in the early hours of Tuesday.
Adams is the third member of the lower legislative chamber to die in 2024, after Isa Dongonyaro, member representing Babura/Garki federal constituency of Jigawa state and Olaide Adewale Akinremi, member representing Ibadan north federal constituency
A former football player, Adams had served as the general manager of Nigeria Premier Football League side, Remo Stars as well as Kada City before he won a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2023 general elections.
His sports background earned him the role of the reps committee chairman on sports despite being a first timer in the green chamber.
Spokesperson of the house, Akin Rotimi, in a statement, said the lawmaker was a “dedicated public servant, passionate sports administrator, and kind philanthropist.”
He said Adams was a “kind and gentle humanitarian, loved by all who knew him”, adding that his dedication to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria was “unwavering” and that his contributions to the house will be deeply missed.
Reacting to Adams’ death, former secretary of the club owners association, Alloy Chukwuemeka wrote: “My good friend and one of our frontline members of the NPFL Club Owners Association, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon Ekene Abubakar Adams is Dead. May God console his family and friends and may his soul rest in peace.”
