The SUN Honours Pinnick As Sports Personality Of The Year

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick will on Saturday be honoured with the award of Sports Personality of the Year at the prestigious annual THE SUN Awards, set for the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a letter conveying the good news to Pinnick, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the leading media outfit, Mr. Eric Osagie wrote: “The Sun Board of Editors voted you in recognition of your blistering career as a sports administrator and motivator. Your ideas, strategy, energy and drive aimed at transforming the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) into a world class credible, respectable, transparent and accountable body with sustainable business –oriented culture are efficient and effective.

“You are a man of mission. Since your assumption of office as President, NFF, you have steadily unveiled capacity –building programs which have continually impacted positively on the league and attracted greater recognition from FIFA and CAF.

“Through your admirable combination of determination, hard work and distinction, you facilitated the signing of a kit sponsorship deal with a global brand and launched a twin-youth development program of the U-13 and U-15 in the various local government areas up to State levels. Your diligent pursuit of excellence is inspiring and worth applauding.

NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

“The Sports Personality of the Year category of The Sun Awards is conferred on a Nigerian sport man or woman, or official, or administrator whose achievements during the period of review have brought out the best in our sports and elevated our game to heights hitherto unknown.”

Former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Arthur Mbanefo, will chair the Awards ceremony.

THE SUN Eulogizes, Presents Letter Of Award To Pinnick

One of the nation’s leading media houses, THE SUN, on Thursday extolled the efforts of the present NFF administration led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick, at the presentation of the letter of award to the NFF President as Sports Personality of the Year.

At a simple but inpressive ceremony at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the media giant’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Eric Osagie, made it clear that the award is usually presented to a sportsman or woman, or an administrator, “whose achievements during the period in review had elevated Nigeria sports to heights hitherto unknown.”

NFF President Amaju Pinnic THE With Members of THE SUN

Osagie reeled out the on-field and off-field achievements of the Pinnick–led NFF, which swayed the Board of Editors: capacity –building programs for referees, coaches and administrators; prioritization of the welfare of players and officials of the National Teams; excellent policies that have improved and elevated the domestic League; qualification of Nigerian National Teams for major international competitions; signing of an agreement with a global brand, NIKE, for the kitting of the National Teams; successful campaigns of the National Teams at various global and continental championships; FIFA and CAF elite courses for coaches and referees and; a lofty U-13 and U-15 youth program determined to create a pool of talented footballers to feed the various National Teams in the near future.

“THE SUN Awards have been on for the past 13 years, and over the years, we have done everything necessary to maintain its integrity. A lot of rigour goes into the selection process. Nominations are made and then each candidate is subject to scrutiny in a way that only the very best would emerge.

“THE SUN Awards is blind to ethnicity, religious or other base sentiments. It is merit that wins at the end of the day. We believe that as a country, we cannot continue to dwell on negatives. Those who have shown excellence and a spirit for innovation should be encouraged so that they can do much more.”

Responding, NFF President Pinnick said he was humbled by the honour, but hugely encouraged to continue unruffled in the task of working with other members of the NFF Board and Management to taking Nigeria football to new heights.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick with Eric Osagie Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief The SUN

“I want to dedicate this award to the Members of the NFF Executive Committee, Management and the Congress. They give me a lot of encouragement to keep going, even in the face of odds.

“I want to assure you that ourselves in the Board and Management are dedicated to doing even much more to herald a new dawn in the Nigeria game. Honours like this serve as tonic to keep going strong.”

THE SUN Awards Ceremony, 13th edition, will hold in Lagos on February 20, 2016.