Chairman of the Nigerian Award for Sporting Excellence (NASE), Prince Isidore Oduah has described the institution of the reward for athletes and exceptional administration as coming in other better time than now as it is set to recognise them as way of appreciating their numerous contributions to sports in the country plus their undaunted efforts to bring honour to their father land despite obvious shortcoming occasioned by lack of infrastructures yet against these odds come tops despite often shoddy treatment by their motherland.
“The reason for this Award is to lift the heroes and heroines who have been quickly forgotten by the same system they served to the best of their ability. NASE was instituted to lift their spirits and further announce them that their patriotic zeal that brought honour and world acclaim to the country won’t be in in vain. It a reward for athletes, exceptional administrator and other sports personalities that have developed infrastructures that continues to aid athletes to carry out their chosen careers without much hassle. In summary therefore, it is an Award whose time has come,” Oduah narrates.
  
Oduah who was a executive committee member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) further said that it is an event for sportsmen and women who worked tirelessly to bring honour to Nigeria who never got recognised after doing all to raise the image of the nation through sports internationally.
According to him, they meticulously utilized their God’s gift to the benefit of their mother land but where not recognised through an award which they would treasure each time they open their shaves while going down memory lane. He insists that it is the void in their lives that Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence after thorough and brain staking deliberations came up with is unique reward. Whenever they look into their shaves, they see this life time Award that they never solicited for but came strictly on merit. The joy how it came would make them beat their chest and also nod their heads in agreement and fulfillment an honour that the country could not offer them came via a well thought out group of patriots’ initiative. It is an Award that rekindles hope that after all their efforts were after all not in vain, Oduah who is the Financial Secretary of Association of Sports Veterans Nigeria further remarks.  
“It is obvious fact that once these athletes retire from active sports, they totally forgotten by the country and such practice never encourage continuity among the aspiring young ones. They would say this is how we will be treated when our legs can no longer carry us and by this Nigeria Awards for Sporting Excellence, there is hope for younger athletes that one day they would be remembered and bestowed with this prestigious NASE honour. It will make them put in their best as they will redouble their efforts in any of the sports they found themselves representing the country. It is a hope lifting award for the younger one and lifelong for those so recognised. If you like call it a double edge sword for the good of the athletes’ retired and active ones, recounts.
On the level of preparations as the event draws closer, the former Vice Chairman of Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) are ready as we are putting finishing touches to mount an Award whose memory would keep vibrating in the minds of sporting Nigerians and beyond.
As did say earlier, being an Award that is strictly for the people that deserved them, we are not leaving anything to chance to ensuring not only a hitch free event but also one talk of the town for its beautiful and innovative features that set the tone as the Mother of All the Awards in the country. The acceptance is growing by the day as the D- day, Saturday, December 2, draws.
He revealed that all NASE awardees are in constant touch with us and their responses are still as constant as the northern star. It will be an unprecedented event, to say the very least, he restates.
The four times board member of the Anambra State Sports Council (ANSSC) said the expectations for the Award is huge as its target audience are decisively covered this edition. We anticipates great outing no doubt because the entire exercise is woven around selflessly. Those that are to finally receive NASE awards were carefully chosen as they also went through tighter rudiments that lastly put a seal on them as eminently qualified. NASE award is not a jamboree exercise rather it is one for only those their practical achievements are glaringly for all to see and pass judgment. Consequent upon that, it is where we drew our very high expectations of a resounding outing come Saturday, December 2, at the Lagos Airports Hotel, Ikeja. In short it will be one Awards night to look out for annually always, the veteran sports administrator insists.
“It built on solid ground. We did not seek our awardees rather their works did; who have staked their all in the development and administration of various sports spanning many decades, neither did they lobby for the Awards. We out of common and national interest institute NASE to appreciate them for job well done over these years they toiled for the love of their father land. That was the only notion behind what will be full blown come Saturday, December 2, in Lagos. It is a serious platform laced around men and women of high integrity.
These awardees have done this country proud internationally and one believes the recipients will applaud our efforts,” he said.