The Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA) has bestowed lifetime achievement awards of honour on former Super Eagles stars, Augustine Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, a former athlete and coach; Armelia Edet Effiom, a former Nigerian long jumper; Yusuf Alli and other greats at its third banquet and award ceremony, which was held on Thursday in Abuja.
Themed ‘Labour of Our Heroes Past’, the event attracted crème de la crème in the sports sector, who thronged the event in their numbers to celebrate sporting greats who had flown Nigeria’s flag and brought honour and glory to the motherland.
Speaking at the event, NOA President and former basketball Olympian Olumide Oyedeji highlighted the importance of honouring those who paved the way for Nigeria’s sporting progress and excellence.
He said, “We must never forget those who laid the foundation of our sporting success. By honouring them, we inspire the younger generation to believe that their efforts will not go unnoticed.”
In separate interviews with Sporting Tribune, Eguavoen, 1980 AFCON winner; Henry Nwosu, Armelia Edet, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation; Musa Nimrod and Barcelona 1992 Olympics handballer; Mary Mkpolulu urged the Federal Government to make provisions for a good reward system for Nigerian athletes after their careers, as it is done in developed countries, especially in Europe.
They said athletes gave their lives, sweat and blood to represent Nigeria at international meets and deserve a monetary reward and befitting recognition that will make lives comfortable for them in retirement.
Speaking with Sporting Tribune, FCT FA chairman, Abba Mouktar Mohammed described the event as an avenue to recognise the efforts of great Nigerian heroes.
Mohammed, while commending the NOA for the award, described it as a great initiative that will go a long way in redefining, reshaping and developing Nigeria’s sports ecosystem and social development.
“I think it’s a really great initiative that the Olympians have come together to celebrate and honour heroes past and present that has given their lives, sweat, blood, sacrifice and brought honour to the country. This is the kind of event we need as a country to reflect, to remember and to respect the efforts put behind that inspired the new generation to go into sports and even participate.
“The private sector and the government need to do more and recognise our sporting heroes where their stories will be told and heard and which will go a long way in developing our sports ecosystem and our social development,” the football chief said.
Among the Olympians recognised were former Super Eagles coach and 1988 Olympian Augustine Eguavoen; ex-international striker Samson Siasia; Olympic sprint medalist Deji Aliu (1996, 2000, 2004); and Henry Nwosu, a veteran of the 1980 and 1988 Games. Other awardees included celebrated long jumper Yusuf Alli (1984, 1988), Armelia Edet (1972), sprinter Samson Oyeledun (1980, 1984), boxer and 1972 medalist Isaac Ikuohria, handball player Mary Mkpolulu (1992), and weightlifter Cosmos Sampson Idioh (1980).
Also honoured are key figures whose efforts have significantly enhanced athlete welfare and promoted the Olympic movement. Among them were the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; veteran journalist and publisher, Kunle Solaja and Larry Izamoje.
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