By Kunle Solaja.

Lagos will witness a gathering of some of the biggest names in Nigerian sports administration and athletics as the 6th edition of the Sportsville Special Recognition Award holds on Good Friday.

The event, scheduled for 6 pm at the Lagos Country Club, is expected to attract a distinguished audience drawn from across the nation’s sporting ecosystem. Chairman of the occasion is Larry Izamoje, founder of Brila Media Group.

Among the high-profile dignitaries already in Lagos for the ceremony are former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, now Special Adviser to the President, as well as respected sports administrator Amos Adamu. Also confirmed are Danladi Bako and football legend Segun Odegbami.

The Managing Director of Lift Above Poverty Organisation, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, is also among the prominent guests expected at the ceremony.

Top officials from the National Sports Commission will be led to the event by its Director General, Bukola Olopade. The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, will also be in attendance alongside coach Fanny Amun and Nigeria Olympic Committee scribe Tunde Popoola.

Olympians such as Henry Amike and Olumide Oyedeji are equally expected, adding further glamour to the night.

Other notable personalities billed for the event include marketing and corporate figures like Idoreyin Enag, Taye Ige, sports consultant Mitchel Obi and Tayo Popoola.

Media and sports stakeholders such as Felix Awogu, Charles Anazodo, Kweku Tandoh, Efiong Nyong and Mojeed Adegbindin are also listed among the guests.

Former internationals, including Waidi Akanni, Friday Elahor, Wasiu Ipaye, Loveday Omoniyi and Sarah Igunbor, are also expected to grace the occasion.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville Communication Services Limited, Frank Ilaboya, described the event as a celebration of excellence in Nigerian sports.

“The annual Sportsville Award has become a gathering of the crème de la crème of sports personalities in Nigeria, and this is exactly what we are expecting,” Ilaboya said.

He added that the organising committee, headed by Harry Iwuala, has put finishing touches to ensure a memorable evening.

“This is our sixth edition, and we are ready to leverage our past experiences to deliver an award ceremony that will meet international standards. With the quality of guests on the ground, it promises to be another great night of celebration,” he said.

The Sportsville Special Recognition Award has, over the years, established itself as one of Nigeria’s premier sports honour platforms, celebrating outstanding contributions and achievements across various disciplines.

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Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Christopher Tam Abinye Green, is wearing a broad grin ahead of the maiden South South Media and Entertainment Awards (SSMEAwards), holding on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Atlantic Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

Green is one of the top nominees in the Sports Personality of the Year category and will be honoured alongside Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Honour also beckons onDr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications. There are also several distinguished personalities drawn from banking, academia, public service, entertainment and the corporate sector set to be honoured.

The awards, supported by the Rivers State Government and key ministries, aim to celebrate excellence across 31 categories.
SSMEAwards President, Sammy Wejinya, said the initiative seeks to inspire improved service delivery across the South South region.

“We want stakeholders to consistently raise their game, knowing society is watching,” he said.

The Red Carpet opens at 5pm, with the main event starting at 6pm, as Port Harcourt prepares to celebrate its “heroes and heroines” — with Chris Green clearly relishing the moment.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Global football training institution, the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar which reshaped the global sporting landscape, celebrated its 20th anniversary by honouring one of those who shaped the institution, Zohair Ammar.

He is a well-known Egyptian sports management instructor and expert in sports marketing.

As an advisor, Ammar was instrumental in the founding of the institution which has been a beacon for sports academies globally.

Zohair Ammar – a honour well deserved.

Ammar was given special recognition at the 20th anniversary of the institution which also coincided with the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

He was an advisor to the founding committee and witnessed the Emiri decree in 2004 that brought this ambitious project to life.

Aspire, an independent government-funded agency, was born, reporting directly to the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani through the heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

In 2008 a significant milestone was reached with an Emiri decree that integrated Aspire Academy as a strategic business unit (SBU) within the newly formed Aspire Zone Foundation.

This transition, while altering the organizational structure, did not alter the core mission of Aspire: to nurture and develop exceptional athletes, both locally and globally.

 Ammar’s personal connection to Aspire ran deep. He had been honoured to attend the grand opening ceremony in 2005, led by the Emir himself at the magnificent Aspire Dome.

The event marked Aspire’s official debut on the world stage, signalling its commitment to excellence and innovation.

As a sports journalist, I got to know Ammar while attending the FIFA/CIES diploma course in sports management at Cairo University in 2011/2012.

I had the privilege of learning from his expertise. As the program manager, Ammar’s dedication to fostering the next generation of sports leaders was evident.

My wife and I became the first couple that attend the course and were fortunate enough to complete the 4th edition of this prestigious program,

We are living testimonies to the valuable insights and inspiration imparted by Ammar.

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