The 10th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, NPA, has been billed for March 2024 as organisers promise to host a special and unique ceremony.
The awards ceremony honours footballers, officials, administrators, corporate bodies, states, and journalists who work tirelessly to uplift the standard of football, first held in November 2013.
Organisers, Matchmakers Consult now known as the Lenders Consult, in a press conference in Lagos, says the 2024 edition which is expected to hold during the March international window will be big.
Since its inception in 2012, the awards have withstood the test of time as the only initiative that rewards the efforts of sports stakeholders.
With 480 nominations and 160 winners recorded, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Shina Philips, says the feat is proof of its integrity, credibility, and transparency.
He said “At inception, our determination was to create an award platform built on integrity, credibility, and transparency. It’s to our credit that in the last 10 years, after 480 nominations and 160 winners, there have been no controversial award decisions.”
These successes, however, have attracted huge financial constraints to the organisers who insist they will not compromise on the integrity of the awards for sponsors.
Mr. Philips said “We are delighted that the Nigeria Pitch Awards has come to stay and has become an integral part of our annual football calendar.
“This has come at enormous cost and sacrifice. Even in the face of a dearth of sponsors, we have remained consistent and steadfast in celebrating our football heroes.”
Phillips vowed that the awards would continue to grow to an enviable height that would see it compete with global football awards.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has always partnered in ensuring the sustenance of the event, and this time is no different.
The NFF Director of Communication, Ademola Olajire, pledged the federation’s support in ensuring that the 2024 edition Nigeria Pitch Awards is very unique.
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Olajire said “The federation has been giving its support to the organisers because the awards have demonstrated high level of Integrity, Credibility, and Transparency. I must say the NFF appreciates the awards because of the three things I just mentioned, and it will continue to give its full support,”
“I believe the organisers they are already working very hard to make it special, the NFF will really support them to make it very unique”, Olajire adds.
Among activities to mark the 10th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, is a symposium which will aim at address the future of football in Nigeria.
A college of voters, made up of Sports editors and journalists from the 36 states of the country including the federal capital territory, will nominate candidates for the different award categories with voting scheduled to commence on 4th December 2023 and end on 12th January 2024.