May, 29 2023.
Credit: Wale Ajayi.
Renowned sports journalist and social critic, Adewale Ajayi is most excited by the caliber of sports personalities that were conferred with various National honours on Sunday and has taken time to carefully analyze the profiles of these personalities and why the federal government decided to honour them at this time.
1. Sunday Akin Dare
The outgoing Nigeria Minister of Youth and Sports Development, came into a relatively strange sector and performed beyond expectations.
After four years in the saddle, Sunday Dare weathered the storm of uncertainty, wrestled against principalities and powers in the sector and excelled where his predecessors failed.
To the best of his ability, he brought sanity to the Football, Basketball and Athletics federations, led team Nigeria to brilliant performances at the Olympics and Commonwealth games and also managed to instill discipline among Nigerian athletes at international events.
Let's not also forget that he championed the adopt an athlete initiative that has placed many sports men and women on the payroll of state governors and corporate bodies.
The adopt a facility initiative also saw the refurbishment of some moribund sporting facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Daura in Katsina state.
Eigthy percent of his experiments, interventions and suggestions churned out positive outcomes but in some rare ocassions, the reverse was the case.
Nevertheless, he still stands out as Nigeria's best sports minister of the last two decades.
2. Amaju Melvin Pinnick
Loved by many and chastised by a few, this Delta state born football administrator is a rare breed. From a very modest beginning as Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju rose to the exalted seat of CAF Vice president and later emerged FIFA Council member.
In the midst of these personal glories he struggled to keep his head afloat even as he watched the ship called Nigeria football federation sank daily due to poor performances on the field of play. That is not to say he failed in his responsibility as president of the Nigeria football federation.
Till date, he prides himself as the first individual that did two term as NFF president. He reminds anyone who cares to listen that he is the first Nigerian to bring over 12 Sponsors into Nigeria football at a time, the NFF became 80percent autonomous.
Not to forget too, that the Warri born football administrator is the first African to work as match commissioner in five matches at a FIFA World Cup. Add these achievements to the fact that he once rose to the enviable height of CAF Vice president and sat at table with the lords of World football, you will then understand why he deserves to be honored by the federal republic of Nigeria for being a worthy Ambassador of this great nation
3. Hon Kunle Soname
The founder, Chairman and owner of Remo Stars football club of Ogun state is a one of the fastest growing business magnates in today's Western Nigeria. He currently has a fleet of businesses both at home and abroad but for every penny he makes, he is tempted to always invest back to the society that has made him who he is today.
His pet project Remo stars football club of Ogun State has metamorphosed from a modest football academy to a continental Super power. That is after their involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup.
He also owns one of the world's biggest betting companies Bet9ja, and has only recently floated an airline company ValueJet in Nigeria, that will soon start operating on the international route.
His philanthropic gestures cannot be under estimated as his hand of love has touched the lives of several men and women who were desperately in need of help at some point in time.
It would have been a major hindsight on the part of the selectors if they have failed to notice these achievements to honour a man whom many love to call the true father of Nigeria youths.
Let me use this opportunity to once again congratulate these worthy Ambassadorz of the Sporting Sector and also to Congratulate Napoli of Italy and Nigerian international Victor Osimhen for making the list of deserving recipients.
After emerging highest goalscorer in the Italian Seria A with 25 goals so far and helping his club to win the Serie A' title, 2015 FIFA Under 17 world cup winner and record highest goal scorer, Victor Osimhen has done so well for himself in just a short time to deserve this award.