Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong has described the Nigerian Sports Award as the best way to reward sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in this country and make Nigeria proud.
Dalong made the statement at his first official outing since his appointment as minister during the award ceremony held on Friday at the Marquee, Oceanview, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Dalong who admitted that the reward system in this society of ours has been consigned to materialism, commended the vision of the organizers for their initiative to recognize talents, contributions, skills and performances of the distinguished sportsmen and women through the award.
The Jos-born administrator added that the establishment of the Nigerian Sports Award has developed a society where the reward system is functional.
“I am very elated from what I have seen here and we would improve on it. My passion as a person is that we should be able to develop a society where the reward system is functional. I believe a society without an effective reward system is a society destined to doom,” Dalong said.
“Of course, in this society of ours the reward system was consigned to materialism. You are not recognizing because of your consistent, you are not recognized because of your talent, you’re not recognize because of your skills but you’re recognize by the size of your pocket. Indeed, that has contributed immensely in destroying the progress of the country. And here stands the viability of the vision of organizers of this award, which we are all gathered here to recognize excellence.
“We are here to recognize the talents, the contribution, the skills and performances of our sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in this country and make Nigeria proud. This was made possible with the organizers of this award, which is commendable. Sports we all know is one of the basic instruments that can unify not only the country but also the whole world,” he stated.
The FIBA 2015 MVP Chamberlain Oguchi emerged Ball Sportsperson of the Year, for helping National Basketball team, D’ Tigers won the just concluded FIBA Africa tournament. He defeated Aruna Quadri and Olumide Oyedeji.
Are Feyisetan, Nigerian Powerlifting Coach, beat off a stiff competition from the National Men’s Basketball team, William Voight and the Women Cycling Coach, Bashir Mohammed to be crowned the Coach of the Year category.
Kelechi Nwanaga (Javeline) was handed the Discovery of the Year award at the expense of Awoniyi Taiwo (Footballer) and Amusan Tobiloba.
In the football category, Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa was named the Footballer of the Year (Men) ahead of Odion Ighalo, and the Sunshine Stars striker, Tunji Adeniji while Ngozi Okobi dethrone Asisat Oshoala to emerge the Footballer of the Year (Women) category.
World record breakers at the just concluded All African Games, Yakubu Adesokan went home with double awards of the Special Sport Person of the Year and the Sports Man of the Year.Loveline Obiji humbles Balqis Otunla and Lovina Onyegbule to emerge the Sports Woman of the year.
The Director General (DG) of the National Sports Commission, Yakmut Al-Hassan was named the Sports Administrators of the Year category ahead of the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali.
For the School Sports Award, Eyeanugie Primary School, Edo state emerged the winner while Nigerian Men Basketball Award team, D’Tigers, was named the Team of the Year category.
Tosin Oke (Triple Jump), a gold medalist at the just concluded All African Games overpower Kelechi Nwanaga (Javeline) and Uke Claire (Discuss), for the Track and Field Star of the year while Balqis Otunla conquered Mariam Usman for the weightlifter of the Year award.
For the Sport Journalist of the Year (Print) category, Tana Aiyejina of The Punch Newspaper retained the award after he triumph over Oludare Shina of Goal.com, Johnny Edwards Complete Sports and Kayode Ogundare i-Soccer while Ganiyu Yusuf of the Complete Sport was named the Photo Journalist of the year ahead of Bola Omilabu of the Nation/ SportingLife Newspaper, John Ebota of The Nation, Segun Ogunfeyintimi and Akeem Salawu of The Vanguard Newspaper for.
The Radio Sport Journalist of the Year went to Chinasa Ibonye, City FM after a competition from last year winner Godwin Enakhena, Top Radio, Murphy Djemba of Brila FM, and Udeme George, Love FM, Abuja while Austin Okon-Akpan of Channels TV emerged Sport Journalist of the Year (Television) after surmounting pressure from Miyen Akiri of Galaxy TV, and Moses Praiz of Supersports.
The Special recognition award category goes to the President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation, Major General Kenneth Minimah and the 2015 World Scrabble Champion, Wellington Jighere.
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