National Sport Commission Pledges Support for Nigerian Sport Award

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged to throw its weight behind the organizers of the Nigerian Sports Award in its quest to inspire outstanding performances in Nigerian sportsmen and women through recognition and reward. The Director General, National Sport Commission, Al-Hassan Yakmut made this known in Abuja recently when he received members of the Award Panel who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Addressing the members of the Award Panel during the courtesy visit, Yakmut commended the effort of the organizers for remaining steadfast and committed towards the objectives of the Award, which is to reward excellence performance among Nigerian athletes.

The Director General noted that the Nigerian Sports Award could be described as the outsourced aspect of the National Sports Policy, which has provision for Reward & Incentives. He added that the Commission needs to give its maximum support to the initiative especially in line with the Public-Private Partnership drive of the government.

A Member of the Award Panel,Nigerian Sports Award, Mitchel Obi, presenting an award to the Director General, National Sports Commission, Al-Hassan Yakmut in Abuja recently.

Speaking earlier on the mission of the team to the National Sports Commission, the Chairman of the Award Panel, Ikeddy Isiguzo disclosed that the Panel was in Abuja to congratulate Yakmut on his recent appointment as the Director General and also to deepen the relationship between the Commission and the Nigerian Sports Award.

Isiguzo called for more participation and involvement of the National Sport Commission in the Nigerian Sport Award by making its presence felt during the award Gala Night ceremony which he described as the celebration of the achievements of the sports Ministry.

He used the occasion to announce to the Director General that the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award would hold at a yet to be made public date in November at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“We want more presence from the Ministry and the reason is very obvious, whatever anybody says, the Ministry does a lot for the athletes and when we have an event of that magnitude, the presence of the Sports Ministry from the Minister of Sports to the Director General and other key office holders is very important because we are celebrating the achievement of the Ministry’’ he said.

Nigeria Sports Awards

While presenting the Nigerian Sports Award plaque to the Director General as a mark of honour, Mitchel Obi, a member of the Award Panel stated that the appointment of Yakmut is well deserved having come a long way in Nigerian sports from being a Volleyball player to an administrator.

“It is our privilege to present to you this unique award for your commitment to sports development in Nigeria and also a reflection of the vision you have for Nigerian sports and we believe that with the Nigerian Sports Award, it is a recognition for those who have excelled and those who are on the path of excellence.

Nigerian Sports Award: Organisers Unfold Plans for 2014 Edition

Organizers of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award – Unmissable Incentives Limited has unfolded the plans and activities for the 2014 edition of the award which is instituted to for recognizing and rewarding outstanding Nigerian sports men and women for their excellent performances in their respective sporting events.

Speaking at the Press conference to herald the activities for the 2014 edition of the award which is also the third edition, the chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo noted that the award has evolved to be recognized as a respected award for Nigerian sportsmen and women for their exploits in the world of sports.

Isiguzo further disclosed that the organisers of the award will not relent in its effort to continue to improve on the processes of the award by taking public feedbacks and comment with a view to make the award a legacy within the sports sphere in Nigeria.

Presenting the timelines for the 2014 edition of the award to the Press, the General Manager Unmissable Incentives Limited Mr. Kayode Idowu disclosed that entries for nomination from the members of the public for the various categories of the award will open on May 14, 2014 and closes on September 7, 2014 while the main award ceremony will hold on November 13, 2014 at Muson Centre, Lagos.

Idowu disclosed that the media category of the award has been expanded from two to four in response to the clamours from the Sports Journalists. He declared that from the 2014 edition of the award, the media category will now include Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Sports Journalist of the Year (Radio), Sports Journalist of the Year (Television) and the Sports Photo Journalists of the Year which will all be determined by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)

He stressed further that some deserving Nigerian Sports Heroes will be bestowed with the honour of the Life Time Achievement in Sports award by the Nigerian Sports Award in line with the ongoing centenary celebrations of the nation.

On the back of the centenary celebrations, Mr. Kayode Idowu also announced that the organisers of the award will be publishing a compendium on the Top 100 great moments, teams and people in Nigeria sports.

He reinstated that the Nigerian Sports Awards is open to Nigerian sportsmen and women plying their trade within and outside the country. The categories include: Football (Male & Female, Foreign & Domestic),Track and field (Male/Female; all races, Long Jump, Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, High Jump), Ball Sports (Table Tennis, Tennis, Basketball, Volley ball & handball), Combat Sports (Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Kung-Fu, Wrestling), Weight Lifting (Male & Female), Boxing,

Others include; Team of the year, Sports Man & Woman of the year, Coach of the year, Discovery of the year (Male & Female), Special Sports Person of the year, Lifetime Achievement Award in sports, School Sports Award, Sports Governor of the year, track & field star of the year, ball sports, combats sports, weight lifting, boxer of the year and many others.