It was a gathering of the bigwigs in Nigerian sports as the 5th Sportsville Special Recognition Awards took center stage in Lagos. The ceremony held on Thursday at Eko Club in Surulere attracted eminent Nigerians both home and abroad.
One of the high points of the event was the presentation of the “Innovative Sports Personality award” to Hon. Omonlei Imadu, the initiator of the first-ever boxing league in Africa. Imadu bagged the honours for his visionary strides in boxing development in Nigeria and Africa.
In his very profound acceptance speech, the Yucateco boss dedicated his award to former Nigerian and West African light-heavyweight champion Gabriel Olanrewaju who died while fighting Ghanaian Jon Mbanugu in a Ghana Professional Boxing League bout on Saturday March 29th. Imadu asked that everyone be on their feet as they observed a minute silence in honor of the late pugilists.
In his words: ” I am genuinely excited to recieve this award because I merited it and it was never solicited for”.
” I also wish to ask everyone to be on their feet in honor of one of Africa’s finest heavyweight boxer late Gabriel Olanrewaju who died in the ring during a professional bout in Ghana last week, this award is for him and every African boxer”.
Other Awardees at the ceremony includes Christopher Green, Commissioner for sports River State, Davidson Owumi, Chief Operating Officer NPFL, Amobi Ezeaku, GM Rangers International, former FIFA Referees adviser Linus Mba, and Dr. Uyi Akpata, president Nigeria Cricket Federation.
Also on the lists of recipients is Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medalist, Dr. Terry Eguaoje, NFF head of Education, as well as Rotimi Pedro amongst others.
Twenty-two eminent personalities were honored at the 5th Sportsville Awards ceremony.
