The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development in conjunction with the National sports festival marketing and management company limited will on Monday give different categories of Award to States, Organisations as well as Media Broadcasting for promoting and supporting sports development in Nigeria.
In a release signed by the Managing Director, National Sports Festival Marketing and Management company limited, Ugo Umeseaka, Akwa Ibom State will be honoured for its support for the country’s National Senior football team, the Super Eagles for their Qualification for the 2018 FIFA world cup in Russia.
Rivers State will receive award for promoting Wrestling in the continent while Lagos State, the centre of Excellence, will be called to the podium for its international sports tourism among its support for different sporting activities in Nigeria.
Other States that will be recognized on Monday night include Kwara State for their back-to-back hosting of National Youth Games as well as Delta State for promoting track and field events in Africa.
Ugo also mentioned that Benedict Peters, the owner of Aiteo will be honoured for his support for football development in Nigeria.
UBA, Zenith, Keystone and Access Banks will also receive awards for their different roles in sports promotion in Nigeria.
However, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) will be awarded with special honour for its social responsibility policy in sports development and promotion of both local and international competitions while Channels Television for its yearly sponsor of Kids football competition.
“These categories of award are part of the rebranding process of changing the National Sports festival. Don’t forget that this festival is our own Olympic games as it is the biggest sporting fiesta in Nigeria with the number of Athletes and Officials that participate in the Games.
“We are organizing these awards to appreciate the support of these individuals, private organizations as well as State governments and to show them that Nigerians truly know what they are doing to liberate the Youth from poverty and to reduce unemployment in Nigeria”. Ugo Umeseaka boasted.
Dignitaries expected at the Transcorp Hilton, Venue of the Dinner and Award night include President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Musa Bello, Governors of Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Kwara State.
