NOA To Celebrate, Honour 15 Nigerian Sports Legends On 24 July

Nigerian Olympians Association (NOA) has crested a platform to honour and celebrate sports heroes and legends who have contributed so much to lift the name of the country high in international arena.
According to the NOA, there is urgent need to appreciate the patriotic labour of some Nigerians to their fatherland in sports and to give upcoming athletes that sense of belonging that their service to the nation would not be in vain.

The award ceremony, which is scheduled for Abuja on 24 July, is holding to celebrate these heroes.

President of NOA, former Nigerian basketball international, Olumide Oyedeji, said that it is high timer the narrative is changed to reflect reward for excellence and patriotism in Nigerian athletes.

Oyedeji, a former NBA star, said the award ceremony is part of the activities the Olympian association is putting together to celebrate 2021 Olympic Day.

He said: “The Olympic Day holds on 23 July where we will be having Olympic Forum to discuss pertinent issues affecting sports development in Nigeria. We also plan to mobilise Nigerian Olympians on a match to the National Assembly.

” On 24 July, however, we are going to hold a banquet dinner where 15 Olympians, our heroes and legends will be honoured, awarded and celebrated.

“For the celebration of the Olympic Day, we have put in place a Local Organising Committee (LOC) headed by our immediate past president, Apostle Henry Amike which has since swung into action for us to have a memorable celebration.

” The Honourable Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) are in the known of what we are doing and they approved this. We are also looking forward to their support, as well as support from well meaning Nigeria and corporate organisation. We are determined to see to the success of this event as we have been able to get to this level through personal contributions of the executive of the NOA.”

Speaking on the criteria used to arrive at the 15 awardees, Oyedeji said a three-man committee of respected media practitioners was saddled with this responsibility, adding that the committee took into consideration pacesetting and contribution of such awardees since 1952 till now.

“We are expecting a lot of dignitaries both within and outside the country for the award ceremony. The president of World Olympian Association (WOA) has expressed his willingness to be part of the ceremony, while we will have in attendance Nigerian Olympians in Diaspora.

“It is going to be a historic event, the fist of its kind in Nigeria. We cannot fold our arms to do nothing to appreciate and celebrate our Olympians who had done this country proud in their choosing sporting career and as role models, we should be able to change the mindset of our upcoming athletes that it pays to wear the colours of Nigeria in international arena,” he said.