Runsewe, Dare, others honoured at 4th Sportsville Awards
The Immediate past Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, former Director General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Runsewe, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, amongst other were awarded for their contributions to sports development in Nigeria.
The awardees were honoured at the 4th Sportsville Special Recognition Awards, held at the Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos.
Other eminent sports personalities were also rewarded for their various contributions to the growth of sports in the country.
Dare was awarded as ‘Sports Administrator of the Year’, while Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo was honoured for providing a state-of-the-art sporting complex, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Senator Orji Kalu and Olusegun Runsewe, President of Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), got special recognition awards respectively.
Others are Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye; Victor Ochei, former Delta commissioner for Sports; Solomon Ogba and Igoche Mark.
Also on the award list is Eddington Kuejubola, a one time coordinator of the Super Eagles; as well as ace sports journalist and FIFA recognised World Cup attendee, Kunle Solaja, who both got special recognition awards.
President of Handball Federation, Sam Ochebo, got an award for his landmark achievements in development of handball in Nigeria.
The long list of awardees also has Zainab Saleh, for pioneering the promotion of women in Karate in Nigeria, while Mrs Hauwa-Kulu Akinyemi, a retired director, got recognised for her prowess in sports administration at the Federal Ministry of Sports.
President of Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, got an award for championing the growth of Cricket in Nigeria, while Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Jenkins Alumona and Chikelue Iloenyosi also got rewarded for efforts in their various
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Oladimeji Oshode was awarded ‘Media Officer of the Year’, while a post humous award was given to Late Sebastian Brodricks.
Speaking on the event, it’s Chairman and Head of Local Organising Committee, Segun Odegbami, said that the award has made significant development in recognising those that have made sports great in Nigeria.
“This is an opportunity today to recall bits and pieces of our history, particularly the most successful sides,” Odegbami said.
“Those that received the honours are the ones who have made significant contributions to sports development in Nigeria either in corporate organisations or individual.”
“This is a good opportunity for us to recall that history, those who have performed excellently, so I am delighted to be part of this history.”
“The award that I also received was a big surprise for me, though not as a footballer, or journalist, but as a chairman of the event,” he said.
In his response, Dare said that he foresees a great future for Nigerian sports given the foundation he had laid while he was the minister.
Also, Akpata said that he would continue to lay solid foundation for cricket in Nigeria.
In his response, Runsewe said: “Thank you for this. I feel very proud as a Nigerian being celebrated in my lifetime.
“This is one honour I will cherish for life. I dedicate this award to all Nigerian that lost their lives in Ivory coast during the All Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).”
“I want to thank the former Minister for Sports, Dr Sunday Dare for the support he has given to golf during his tenure. I like to challenge all sports lovers, Nigeria must take the right position in sport.”
“Our Nigerian referees need to be educated. Right now, they hardly invite our referees to multi-national matches, we need to change our attitude.”