The Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has endorsed the first-ever NIGERIAN SPORTS LEGENDS AWARDS.
The Sports Minister Approved the Award as an annual event following a meeting with the Director, Grassroots Sports Development of the National Sports Commission.
Abdullahi, who endorsed the Award further directed that the event should be organized to meet International Practices and due diligence. The letter of approval was signed on behalf of the Minister by Okere Emmanuel of the National Sports Commissions Grassroots Sports Development Department. The Approval Letter was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Awards Organizers New Age Sports Africa, Mr Shamsudeen Tijani-Yusuf, who promised to abide by the National Sports Commissions Directives.
Mr Okere Emmanuel also further informed Mr Shamsudeen Tijani-Yusuf that the Hon. Minister directs the Awards Organizers to liaise with the Sports Sector Centenary Committee to work out the details of the Award, which is tentatively slated for later in the Year.
The Nigerian Sports Legends Award, according to the CEO of New Age Sports Africa, Mr Shamsudeen Tijani –Yusuf is going to be an Annual Event that will be of International standards and will recognize, Reward as well as acknowledge the contributions of Nigeria’s Biggest and Best Sports Legends in the area of Sports from inception till date. Shamsudeen added that this is the first-ever Event of its kind devoted exclusively to the Memories of past Sports Heroes and that there will be special packages and plans for the Sports Legends, including Rehabilitations, Financial Aids as well as Documentaries to show their laudable contributions to Nigerian Sports over the last decades. We also hope to look into the welfare of past Legends who are facing Challenging Times presently and there will be a Special Award Section for Post-Humors, Legends who are late as their Families will be made to realize that the Contributions they made to Nigerian Sports can never be forgotten.
Shamsudeen also thanked the Hon. Sports Minister as well as the National Sports Commission NSC for Endorsing the Award and promised to work with the Sports Sector Centenary Committee, which is led by Veteran Sports Broadcaster, Fabio Lanipekun. According to Shamsudeen: We shall work with the Sports Sector Centenary Committee and will deliver an Award to meet International Standards as we have lots of Partners in and outside the Country who are ready to make this Award a most memorable Event once a definite date is agreed upon. We hope to use this Award to send a very clear message to the Present Nigerian Sports Stars that whatever contributions as well as sacrifices they make to Nigerian Sports will never be forgotten in future.
