Nomination Open For 2015 Nigerian Sports Award As Organizers Unfold Plans…Calls For Sponsorship

The nominations for the 2015 edition of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award are now open as the organizers- Unmissable Incentives Limited unfolds the plans for the 4th edition of the award.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos, on Thursday, the chairman of the award panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo disclosed that the 2015 edition of the award promises to be more eventful than the previous editions.
He noted that the panel is set to introduce some new activities which include the Nigerian Sports Dialogue and Legacy Project for the winners of the Lifetime Award to further promote sports development in the country.

Nigerian Sports Award

Isiguzo who is also the chairman, editorial board of Vanguard Newspaper, described the proposed Nigerian Sports Dialogue which is scheduled to hold sometimes in August 2015 as an avenue for the Nigerian sports stakeholders to converge and deliberate on issues bothering on sports development in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the press conference, the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Sope Durodola revealed that 19 categories will be awarded in the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award. He also hinted that the Award ceremony will be held in Lagos on the 13th of November at a yet to be disclosed venue.

According to Durodola, the categories includes; Ball Sports Person of the Year (Tennis, Table tennis, Basketball, handball) ,Coach of the Year, Combat Sports Person of the Year (Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Boxing ),Discovery of the Year, Footballer of the Year (Women),Footballer of the Year (Men) ,Special Sports Person of the Year, Sports Administrator of the Year and Sports Governor of the Year.

Others are; Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year (Radio), Sports Journalist of the Year (TV), Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Sports Photo Journalist of the Year, School Sport Award, Team of the Year, Track and Field Star of the Year and Weightlifter of the Year.
On the nomination process for the 2015 edition, Durodola announced the inclusion of the social media platforms of Twitter and Facebook in addition to the nomination via the award website to enable more participation.

“In the last three editions of the award, the nominations were only through our website , but this year, we have expanded the platform for nominations to include Twitter and Facebook, while we will also print some hard copies of the nomination forms , which will be submitted at the Sport Ministry (State & Federal) and Sports Federations for the interest of people who may prefer hard copy nominations”.

Nigerian Sports Award 2015

In his own remarks at the press conference, a member of the Award Panel, Mr. Ejiro Omonode of MasterSports International called on sports loving Corporate Organizations, Government, well-meaning individuals and Sports philanthropists to throw their weight behind the Nigerian Sport Award by sponsoring the 2015 edition
He noted that their contributions in supporting the Nigerian Sports Award will go a long way in sport development by motivating Nigerian Athletes by rewarding excellent performance while leveraging on the platform to promote their products and services.

Nigerian Sports Award Salutes Okagbare, Gov. Uduaghan

Blessing okagbare

The organizers of the Nigeria Spots Award (NSA), Unmissable Incentives Limited has commended the Nigeria Track and Field Queen, Blessing Okagbare for winning the 100m gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and setting a new game record of 10.85 seconds.

Okagbare, who won the Track and Field Star and Sports Woman of the Year awards at the 2013 edition of the Nigeria Sports Awards, has been in fantastic form this year with an outstanding performance at the IAAF Diamond League and other competitions preceding the Commonwealth Games.

According to the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Kayode Idowu, Blessing Okagbare has justified her place in history and also justified winning the Track and Field Star and the Sport Woman of the Year awards last year. She has also justified the investment of the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan led Delta State Government.

“We at Nigerian Sports Award are very proud to be associated with Blessing, we are proud of her achievement and with this achievement, Blessing has lent credence to the credibility of Nigerian sports Award” he said.

Kayode Idowu also commended the unrelentless effort of Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State for the scholarship and immense support for Blessing which has brought her this far.

He noted that with this incredible achievement by Blessing, the organizers of the Nigerian Sports Award has also vindicated on the Sports Governor of the Year award bestowed on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in the 2013 edition of the Award.

He then urged Blessing to continue to give her best to win more gold medals in her other event at the Games while charging other Nigerian Athletes at the Commonwealth Games to put in their best in their respective games to win more medals for the country.

L-R-Mrs Bunmi Oke, President AAAN,Kola Oyeyemi,And Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (Winner, Sport Governor of the year).

Commonwealth Games 2014: NSA Charges Nigerian Athletes

Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria. photo credit iaaf.org

Unmissable Incentives Limited-the organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) has charged the Nigerian Athletes to the 2014 Commonwealth Games billed to hold between July 23 and August 3, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland to give their all and bring home as many gold medals as possible.

Kayode Idowu, General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited disclosed that Nigerians have great expectations from the Nigerian Athletes at the competition after the not too impressive performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the just concluded World Cup.

‘’ After the lacklustre performance of our Football team at the World Cup, Nigerians have now turned their attention to the 2014 Commonwealth Games with high hopes that our athletes will do us proud by giving a good account of themselves” he said.

Idowu stressed further that Nigeria has a good track record in Athletics, Boxing, Table Tennis, Weightlifting and Paralympics having won several laurels at not only the African Games and the Commonwealth Games but also at the Olympics.

He declared that with the level of preparedness put in place by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the coaching crew and the Athletes for the 2014 Commonwealth Games is unprecedented and a clear indication that the country is poised for success at the Games.

“I must admit that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has really raised the bar with good planning and preparation for this competition. At least for the first time in our history, we have a robust and well thought out programme and as such we expect the best” he added.

Nigerian Athletes will be competing for honours in different sports including Athletics, Boxing, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Shooting, Wrestling, Power-lifting and Paralympics.

AIBA President receives Honorary Doctorate from the Bulgarian National Sports Academy

The President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Dr Ching-Kuo Wu was conferred today the Honorary Doctorate from the Bulgarian National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski” (NSA) in Sofia.
In his Honorary Doctorate Acceptance Speech Dr. Wu, who also serves as the Executive Board member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), thanked the Academic Council and underlined that by instilling the Olympic values and culture in the young generation, this educational institution not only produces the best ambassadors of these values, but also fosters better members of our society.

“At a very early stage in my life, I found a language that helped me connect to the world and other people, other nations. This was and still is the language of the sport. This is a language without boundaries and it travels freely and safely among the people of the world,” said the AIBA President.

Attending the momentous occasion included the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Mr. Yorgan Yevchev, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee General Secretary Mr. Belcho Goranov, and the Bulgarian Boxing Federation President Mr Krasimir Ininski.

The National Sports Academy plays a fundamental role in developing the potential and talent of thousands of students of Bulgaria, and since 1942 has become one of the most important promoters of sporting values in the country, as well as at the international level.

The “Vassil Levski” Academy awards with Doctor Honoris Causa an honorary degree to prominent public and sport-engaged persons, with special contributions to the development of sport education, Olympism and to preserving the values of youth civil and social integration.

This ceremony first took place in 1996, when the Academic Council of the NSA made the decision for conferring the title as a way of honouring distinguished people.

Since then, the honorary sign has been bestowed to 18 world sport and public leaders, among them the former IOC Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Dr. Jacques Rogge.

The AIBA President is visiting Sofia this week on the occasion of the 2014 Youth World Boxing Championships, which is being hosted in the Bulgarian capital.

Nigerian Sports Award Donates Trophies, Medals for SWAN Cup.

Nigerian Sports Award Supports SWAN Cup, Donates Trophies, Medals

Lagos, Nigeria Tuesday April 22, 2014. In line with its main strategic thrust of rewarding and supporting excellence performance in sports, the organisers of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award has thrown its weight behind the 2014 edition of the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Cup with the donation of all the medals and trophies that will be given out in the competition.

The Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) is donating a total of 120 medals; Trophies for the first, second and third placed teams, Trophies for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), the Highest Goal Scorer and the Best Goalkeeper as well as Plaques for the Best Coach and Best Supporters Club at the end of the competition.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, the organisers of the award, Mr. Kayode Idowu disclosed the Nigerian Sports Award is supporting the SWAN cup with Trophies as a way of rewarding sports excellence which is in line with its creed.

Mr. Kayode Idowu also stated that the drive to use Awards as a form of stimulating growth in Nigerian Sports is the key motivating factor for providing all the medals and trophies that will be won during the 2014 SWAN Cup competition.

He further explained that the gesture is also in recognition and a reward to the Sports Writers for their immense contribution and support for the Nigerian Sports Award and overall sports development in Nigeria.

The Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Cup is an annual competition organized by the association for its members to promote sporting activities and encourage bonding and build team spirit.

Lagos Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Week 2014 kicks off on the 24th of April 2014 with a Novelty match between Team LAGOS SWAN AND TEAM NOLLYWOOD at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos.