Seven Nigerian sportsmen and women who distinguished themselves this year have been nominated to be honoured during the maiden Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence (NASE). The award ceremony will hold next week Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.
A statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday and signed by the Chairman of the Award Committee, Prince Isidore Oduah, named the nominees to include Super Eagles Skipper Mikel Obi; mesmerising winger Victor Moses; veteran striker Obafemi Martins; as well as safe hands Carl Ikeme and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
Others are goal queen Asisat Oshoala and tennis sensation Aruna Quadri.
“This has been a tremendous year of remarkable achievements for Nigerian sports. While we congratulate the entire community of Nigerian sportsmen and women for their exploits this year, we are happy to celebrate the above outstanding seven in the hope that this will motivate them and others to work even harder – not only for the sake of their respective careers, but also for the collective interest of Nigerian sports,” said Prince Oduah, a former Executive Committee Member of the Nigeria Football Association (now known as NFF).
“Names of other nominated sports stakeholders, including administrators and corporate bodies contributing significantly to the development and growth of Nigerian sports, will be unveiled in the days ahead as we count down to the award ceremony,” Prince Oduah stated.
A brainchild of Nigeria’s pioneer all-sport online daily newspaper, Daily Sports (dailysportsng.com), the Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence is scheduled to be held annually.