Senate Minority Leader, Chief (Dr.) Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has been voted Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports 2017 by the Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence (NASE).

He was presented with the award during the maiden edition of NASE held on Saturday night, December 2, at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State was unavoidably absent but sent his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Jackson Udom, to represent him.

Justifying the decision to honour Senator Akpabio with the award, the organisers said: “The Uncommon Transformer, he as Governor of Akwa Ibom State constructed the magnificent stadium now named after him, acknowledged as one of the best in the world – The Nest of Champions, Uyo, which now serves as home for the senior national football team, the Super Eagles.”

Senator Akpabio expressed gratitude for the honour, especially as it was coming over two years after he left office as Governor. He promised to continue to do his best in the service of Nigeria, both in sports and in other areas of human endeavour.

It was a night of glamour and fun as the country’s biggest sports awards successfully debuted to the delight of sports stakeholders from various parts of the country who graced the event expertly hosted by Grandmaster Sunny Okim and On-Air-Personality (OAP) Theresa Moses a.k.a Lady T or Tessy Gold. Entertainment was provided by the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC) Band, while Comedian MC Prophecee CFR further added to the colour with his rib-cracking jokes.

Among dignitaries from the sporting community in attendance was the legendary Coach Kashimawo Laloko, former National Coach of Nigeria and Gambia, one-time Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and currently Director of the wave-making Pepsi Football Academy.

The award ceremony was chaired by sports marketing guru, Mr. Taye Oladimeji Ige, Chairman/CEO of HotSports Network and HS Media Group, a foremost media conglomerate which is currently building the biggest TV production studio in Nigeria.

Apart from Senator Akpabio, nine other individuals and three teams won awards in different categories. They include Super Eagles and Chelsea of England star, Victor Moses; Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State; the President/Sole Sponsor of Go-Round Football Club of Omoku, Rivers State, Bro. Felix Obuah; tennis sensation Aruna Quadri; veteran striker Obafemi Martins; charismatic goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa; and celebrated female footballer Asisat Oshoala. Others were SCOA plc Chairman, Chief Barr. Henry Agbamu; Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) President, Engr. Musa Kida; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Director of Sports, Chief (Mrs.) Dili Onyedinma; Nigeria Football Supporters Club Chairman, Prince Vincent Okumagba; and Chairman, BJ Foundation FC of Benin City, Coach Douglas Idahosa.

The three teams honoured at the occasion were the male and female national basketball teams, D’Tigers and D’Tigress, as well as Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) reigning champions, Plateau United.

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