Sports enthusiast and former Director General of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Dr. Danladi Bako has sent congratulatory message to Paul Bassey, who earlier this week was appointed the Commissioner of Sports in Akwa Ibom State.

“It has been long in coming as your immeasurable contributions to sports in Nigeria and indeed Africa cannot be overemphasized as a member of various CAF sub-committees and the Nation’s Cup organizing Committee, Bako’s statement read in part.

“Without doubt you were well tutored and mentored by the late legendary Orok Oyo, Issa Hayatou and Patrick Okpomo – all great sports administrators of repute.

“We ran into each other in the mid-eighties within the sports ecosystem in Lagos and I have always since then,  found you to be diligent, trustworthy, reliable and professional both as a person and as a renowned sports journalist.

“Surely Akwa Abasi Ibom will gain from your extensive global network as well as your durability and indefatigable character – all of which make you a priceless asset and veritable strategist and meticulous organiser.

“Our days on NTA 2 “Mastersports” programme created and produced by my humble self was a huge success and trailblazer essentially because we had a pillar like you in terms of passion for the games and unalloyed commitment to the dream. Congratulations, Etubom Paul Bassey.”

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The Chairman & Proprietor of Ufuoma Babes Football Club, Elder Eddington Kuejibola has hailed the organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Awards for the nomination of Davidson Owumi and Chris Green for this year’s award.

The duo of Owumi and Green have been nominated to receive awards in the Achievers Category of the Sportsville Special Recognition Awards Ceremony.

According to Kuejibola, a recipient in the 2024 edition, their nomination is a fitting recognition for hard work and great contribution to football development in Nigeria and beyond.

“Honestly, these are well-deserved honours for two great Nigerians who have done more than enough for the upliftment of the great game in Nigeria.

“I want to commend Sportsville for appreciating and rewarding excellence in these exceptional administrators.

“For me, this honour is well deserved, and I say big congratulations to both of them.”

Owumi, has, over the years proved how successful ex-internationals can be when it comes to football administration. As the Chief Operating Officer of NPFL, the ex-Rangers hitman has brought stability and respect to the Nigerian league.

His firmness and honesty in dealing with the stakeholders have drawn admiration from all.

“I am excited to hear that one’s efforts are being recognised,” echoes the soft-spoken administrator fondly called Okada during his playing days. “This is a big honour to me, and I appreciate Sportsville for this recognition.”

For Chris Green, the Sportsville Achievers Award is another feather to his flowing cap of honour when it comes to football administration.

His footprint as a former basketballer, football administrator and now Commissioner for Sports in Rivers State, remains evergreen.

Hear him; “this recognition means a lot to me, not only because of my pedigree in sports administration, but because of the organisation it’s coming from.

“The quality and credibility of people behind this award is enough to celebrate. I have known Frank Ilaboya for a long time and what he stands for in sports journalism and administration. So also, with Tony Ubani and Adekunle Salami.

“For me, it’s a big honour and I will be there to receive the award personally.”

This year’s award comes up on Friday, March 21st at the Prestigious Eko Club, Surulere Lagos, under the Chairmanship of Arise, TV anchor, Oseni Rufai.

Over 15 other personalities and corporate organisations have been listed for honours on that night.

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Nigerian Sports Journalists In Diaspora (NSJID), composed of former Nigerian sports journalists who are now domiciled abroad are very worried about the decaying sports in Nigeria and urgently want to stem the tide.

They have initiated an award for excellence in sports journalism to appreciate practitioners across the old and new media.

According to the president of NSJID, Gbenga Bakare, who was an accomplished sports journalist in the 1990s while working for The Punch, “It would be our utmost dream if we can bring back the  glorious 1980s and 1990s when our sports had the most vibrant media coverage.”

To actualise the dream, the NSJID decided to institute awards for the sports journalists that covered most Nigerian local sports.

The award committee is headed by Gboyega Okegbenro, a former sports editor of Daily Times.

He announced on Monday that the nomination process for the Grassroot Reporting Award will commence this Tuesday, January 28, and it will run for 10 days.

The award ceremony will recognise and reward outstanding journalists who have made significant contributions to grassroots reporting in Nigeria. It will be held on 22nd February.

The award will feature four distinct categories: Print Media, Television, Radio Broadcasting, and Online Media. Winners in each category will receive a cash prize of half a million Naira.

The ceremony will take place at the Lagos Sports Writers Association Hall, at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Assuring transparency and fairness, Okegbenro said: “At the end of the day, the true winners will emerge. The NSJID Award Committee is committed to promoting excellence in grassroots reporting, and this award is a testament to that commitment.

“With the nomination process now open, the stage is set for a thrilling competition that will celebrate the best of Nigerian sports journalism.”

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