The creme de la creme of sports personalities will gather in Lagos this evening for the 4th edition of Sportsville Special Recognition Award ceremony.

Topping the list of the dignitaries is the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki whose state is receiving award for the Best Sports Facilities Category, immediate past Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare, who is the Special Guest of Honour and ace TV anchor, Oseni Rufai of Arise Television.

The list also includes the Chairman/CEO of BRILA FM, Dr Larry Izamoje, Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Lagos State House of Assembly, Abiodun Orekoya, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Tunde Popoola, among others.

The organisers are excited that former Green Eagles Skipper and founder of Eagle 7 Sports Radio,  Segun Odegbami, has accepted to Chair the occasion.

“We’re really excited that top personalities like Dr Odegbami will be chairing the occasion. It tells you the credibility and quality of the award which is only in its 4th year,” Frank Ilaboya, the Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville, the organisers of the award said.

The quality of  awardees in the different categories is another area Mr Ilaboya is fascinated with.

In the Sports Icon Category, we have the likes of former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Solomon Ogba, Rtn Victor Ochei and Otunba Segun Runsewe, OON.

The Sports Administrator of the Year has the NPFL Board Chairman, the quiet and soft speaking Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Dr Uyi Akpata, the President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, leads the likes of Sam Ocheho and Francis Orbih of Handball and Badminton respectively, Hajiya Zainab Saleh, Hauwa-Kulu Akinyemi and Women football pioneer, Elder Eddington Kuejubola .

The list also includes the Chairman, Anambra State Football Association, Chikelue Ileononysi.

The rave of the moment in sports radio broadcast goes to BRILA FM, while Kunle Solaja is named as Nigeria’s highly rated diarist!

The newly-introduced creative category goes to Jenkins Alumona, the Chief Executive Officer of Flykite Promotions, just as ex-Olympian Daniel Igali wins in the Integrity Category

The Media Officer of the Year goes to Oladimeji Oshode of Remo Stars Football Club.

In the sports facilities category, Edo State came tops while Remo Sports Facilities Complex made the cut in the private sector category.

Mark Igoche clinches the Achieve Award. “My special regards  and appreciation go to the Organising Committee led by the ebullient Adekunle Salami, the Deputy Editor and Group Sports Editor of the New Telegraph, for doing a good job, Mr Ilaboya picks up the story again

“I know how daunting it is to sieve few names among the tons of qualified personalities.”

Several arrays of top entertainers have been lined up for the ceremony billed for the prestigious Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos State.

The list of those coming for this  Friday’s Sportsville Special Recognition Award is growing by the day.

The latest confirmation came last night from the immediate past Sports Minister, Hon Sunday Dare.

Chief Dare, who was honoured  yesterday in Abuja by Frontier Television with Service Award, confirmed his attendance when he spoke with Adekunle Salami, the Chairman of the Organising Committee.

“Count me in to grace the occasion. I will not only attend, but  I will be coming with a powerful delegation,” promises the man whose imprints as Sports Minister has continued to resonate in the sports circle.

Dare’s conformation has increased the number of guests expected at the event. As at this morning, over 100 guests have confirmed their seats for the award billed for the Blessing Hall of EKO CLUB, Surulere.

Meanwhile, one of the nominees, Mrs Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi, says she was surprised to be nominated among the awardees. “It came as a pleasant surprise, and I kept wondering what I have done to deserve this honour.

“I am humbled by this and I want to thank the organisers for picking me among the top women administrators in Nigeria.

“This will definitely push me to do more in the years ahead,” the soft spoken administrator added

This year’s edition is the 4th in the series with over 20 people listed for honour. The date is Friday, March 1st, 2024

With the next edition fast approaching, the brain behind the Sportsville Special Recognition Awards, Frank Ilaboya  has thrown light to the reasons behind the event.

“We received two pleasant surprise messages yesterday from two most respected individuals in sports journalism and sports marketing.

“Before I share their messages, I want to say that members of the Organising Committee and I are deeply humbled by these messages which touched on the credibility of Sportsville Special Recognition Awards.

“Mr Jenkins Alumona and Taye Ige, MD/CEO of Flykite Productions and President/CEO of HotSports Group respectfully, spoke about the credibility of the annual awards on Friday February 23rd.

Alumona, a nominee in the Creative & Innovation Category

in this year’s awards started the credibility story immediately after reading the Daily Countdown.

He said: “The need for inducements is primarily why I have refused many awards in the past. I am so happy that this award is one devoid of pressures of any type and it is completely the result of the efforts of I and my team to participate in the progress of Nigerian football using the vehicle of the Naija Super 8. Sportsville’s insistence on walking the awards tuff differently is certainly appreciated.”

We were still savouring the euphoria of that message before another came from Mr Taye Ige, commending the organisers for their credibility.

“I want to specially commend the brains behind the Sportsville Awards for the credibility of the programme.

“This is not the kind of awards where the organisers will be soliciting for some kind of patronage or any type of hidden payments.

“I was privileged to be a recipient of one of the awards a few years ago and I must confess that I was wowed with the high level of honesty, transparency and professionalism of the organisers.

“I have also followed the plans and announcements for this year’s edition and am looking forward to being a part of it,” he added.

Only yesterday, a recipient in the 2022 edition, Olumide Oyedeji, said as much that his award had no monetary attachment, it will remain the most credible sports award.

For me and my team, nothing to add than reiterate our vision to build an enduring credible award devoid of monetary attachment.

Join us on Friday, March 1st, 2024 at the Blessing Hall of the EKO CLUB to celebrate the best of the best.