NIgerian Olympic Committee President, Habu Gumel has been recognised for his service as treasurer of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

The honour came at the ANOC General Assembly which ends today at Doha in Oatar. A total of 204 National Olympic Committees are attending the Annual General Meeting in which four officials from Africa were among those honoured.

Niger Olympic Committee President, Issake Ide was among the recipients for his work with taekwondo and Hamad Kalkaba Malboum “a long-term serving President of Cameroon Olympic Committee”.

Vinakpon Julien Minavoa of Benin was described as “a specialist in Olympic education he has played a key role in a number of educational projects”.

These included founding the National Olympic Academy, a gathering for the study of Olympic matters.

The award was introduced in 1983, when recipients are voted for by representatives of each continental Olympic Association.

Fijian administrator Lorraine Mar received the award “especially for her tireless contribution in promoting the development and participation of women and girls in sport”.

There was also an merit award for Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani for “his great effort in the process of sport in Qatar”.

The tangible insignia is similar to the Olympic order with a chain bearing the crest of ANOC.

International Olympic Committee Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch, Jacques Rogge and Thomas Bach have all been laureates in the past .

Other previous winners included controversial Uzbek boxing official Gafur Rakhimov and Cuban President Fidel Castro.