NSA will get bigger, says Kweku Tandoh

The Chairman of Nigerian Sports Award, Dr. Kweku Tandoh says the event will get bigger. Tandoh, a seasoned sports administrator and General Secretary of the Main Organizing Committee of the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival, was recently appointed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the new Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission. He replaces Deji Tinubu.

Speaking with The Guardian shortly after presentation of awards to various winners at the 2017 edition of the Nigerian sports awards at Eko hotel, Lagos, Tandoh stated that the event would continue to maintain its pride as the No 1 sports award ceremony in the country. He added that more individuals and corporate organisations had identified with NSA in its bid to bring honour to more Nigerian sports men and women as well as coaches, administrators and sports journalists.

At the 2017 award ceremony, Nigerian Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri and female wrestling sensation, Odunayo Adekoroye both emerged the most immense sport personality in Nigerian winning sports man and woman of the year in the Nigerian sports awards 2017.

Super Eagle winger and Chelsea FC stalwart, Victor Moses emerged footballer of the year in the male category beating off competition from Stephen Odey and Anthony Okpotu, while star player of the Super Falcon and Dalian Quanjian FC of China star, Asisat Oshoala picked up the award for the best female footballer of the year beating off competition from Ebi Onome and Rashedat Ajibade shortly after she won the golden boot award in the Chinese women league.

D’Tigress Star, Evelyn Akhator was crowned the ball sport person of the year, after her performances at the FIBA championship 2017 which steered her team to glory while D’Tigress were also rewarded by winning the team of the year.

Presenting the award to the best sport governor of the year, the organisers admitted it was a tough call to make between Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, for both have contributed immensely to the growth of sports in their respective state, hence, they were both crowned as the sports governor of the year.

Barrister Waheed Enitan Oshodi, Vice President, Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) and Daniel Igali, a former wrestler and Captain of Team Nigeria to Canada 1994 Olympics were both rewarded for their stewardship in sports by winning the sports administrator of the year.

16-year-old Georgia Oboh, a golfer, picked up the discovery of the year award while Hannah Babalola was crowned the special sports person of the year. Adekoroye emerged wrestler of the year, which makes her the only athlete to pick up two awards in the event, while her long-time coach Akoh Purity picked up the coach of the year.

Meanwhile, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, who was presented award for special recognition and lifetime achievement alongside veteran sports broadcaster, Fabio Olanipekun at the ceremony has commended the organisers for the recognition.