Organisers of the maiden Newstap/ SWAN Five Star Sports Award have announced the boss of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, will preside over maiden Newstap/ SWAN Five Star Sports Award holding in Lagos on Friday.
The organisers said in a jointly signed statement by Editor of Newstap Communications, Ifeanyi Eduzor and Secretary General Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN), Ikenna Okonkwo, that the number one sports person in the country will be leading top government officials and sports stakeholders to the event where some eminent Nigerians will be honoured for their contributions to the development of Nigerian sports.
Accepting the invitation to be chairman of the occasion, Dikko said: “I’m highly honoured to be the chairman of the award’s nite where eminent Nigerians will be honoured for their contributions to the development of Nigerian sports and I want to assure you that I will be around on that day.”
Dikko commended Newstap Communications and SWAN for the initiative which he said was in line with the vision of the NSC to recognize those who have contributed to the development of the country’s sports ecosystem; saying that the NSC will continue to encourage such recognition.
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He also lauded the nominees namely; GTI Assets Management and Trust Limited, Hon. Kunle Soname, Monimichelle and Bar. Paul Edeh for what they’re doing in developing the country’s sports, noting that the NSC is proud of them and will continue to partner them.
The event comes up on Friday, March 7 at the Bamboo Hall of the prestigious Eko Club off Bode Thomas Street Surulere, Lagos.
Ilaboya hails Bassey, Danladi on new appointments
Former Edo State Football Association Chairman, Honourable Frank Ilaboya, has congratulated two eminent sports personalities for their recent appointments in their states.
Etubom Paul Bassey and Barrister Isaac Danladi, were last week appointed Sports Commissioners in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States respectively.
According to Ilaboya, who is currently an Executive Director with the Edo States Sports Commission, ‘these appointments are heart-warming and capture the story of rewarding competence of the duo’.
The erstwhile Chairman of Lagos State’s chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) added: “I am excited about these appointments, which to me are richly deserved. I must commend the Governments of Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States for recognising and giving honours to who honour is due.
“Both Paul Bassey and Isaac Danladi are some of the best brains this country can boast of when it comes to sports administration in Nigeria.
“These appointments are a just reward for the enormous contributions the duo has made to sports development in their different states and the country as a whole over the years.”
Bassey, former Akwa United boss, rose through the ranks from the position of a reporter to becoming a publisher, and also made his mark as a member of the Media Committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF.
Danladi, who recently retired as a Permanent Secretary in the Nasarawa State Civil Service, was also a Chairman of Nasarawa as well as former Chairman of the Club Owners Association of Nigeria, among other positions.