It was a back-to-back win for NationSports’ Olalekan Okusan as the 2012 NMMA award winner was named the 2017 Sports Journalist of the Year (print) at this year’s Nigeria Sports Award held in Lagos at the weekend.
Okusan won same award in 2016 and he been nominated twice in the past for the gong.
Also, Toni Berekedemo of Brilla FM emerged sports journalist of the year for radio; Promise Effoghe of Television Continental (TVC) for TV sports journalist of the year, the Photo Journalist of the year award went to Olusegun Aderinto.
The immediate past president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and a member of the ITTF Nomination Committee, Wahid Oshodi was named as the joint winner of the 2017 Sports Administrator of the Year.
The icing on the cake for table tennis on the night was the naming of Aruna Quadri as the Sportsman of the Year by the organisers. The 2017 Polish Open champion beat Chelsea’s of England star, Victor Moses and Nigeria’s national basketball team captain, Ike Diogu to the gong at the colourful ceremony in the present of who-is-who in the Nigeria’s sporting world.
Female wrestling sensation Odunayo Adekoroye was also named the sportswoman of the year.
Despite losing the biggest award to Aruna Quadri, Victor Moses was rewarded with the footballer of the year in the male category beating off competition from Stephen Odey and Anthony Okpotu, while star player of the Super Falcon and Dalian Quanjian FC of China star, Asisat Oshoala picked up the award for the best female footballer of the year beating off competition from Ebi Onome and Rashedat Ajibade shortly after she won the golden boot award in the Chinese women league.
D’Tigress Star, Evelyn Akhator was crowned the ball sport person of the year, after her performances at the FIBA championship 2017 which steered her team to glory while D’Tigress were also rewarded by winning the team of the year.
Presenting the award to the best sport governor of the year, the organisers admitted it was a tough call to make between Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, for both have contributed immensely to the growth of sports in their respective state, hence, they were both crowned as the sports governor of the year.
Also, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Captain of Team Nigeria to Canada 1994 Olympics, Daniel Igali was named alongside Wahid Oshodi as the sports administrator of the year.
16-year-old golf sensation, Georgia Oboh, picked up the discovery of the year award while Hannah Babalola was crowned the special sports person of the year. Also Odunayo Adekoroye made it double on the night as she emerged wrestler of the year which makes her the only athlete to pick up two awards in the event, while her long-time coach Akuh Purity picked up the coach of the year.
Also Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, President, Amaju Pinnick and Veteran Sports Broadcaster Fabio Olanipekun were presented award for special recognition and lifetime achievement.