NIGERIA @60: List of 60 Nigerian sports icons ready, as FG prepares for celebration

The list is ready, of 60 Nigerian sports icons set to be honoured in commemoration of Nigeria’s Diamond jubilee independence celebration.

Nigeria clocked 60 on October 1, 2020, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports development had designed an event to celebrate personalities that have won laurels for the country and those that have made meaningful impact on sports development in the last sixty years.

While receiving the Report of the Committee set up to collate the votes by Nigerians for the 60 awardees, the Minister, Sunday Dare, said the event was initiated to reward excellence and hard work.

“We initiated this award because of the need to reward our heroes and heroines who have sweated to put the name of Nigeria on the world map. Unfortunately most of these patriots have died, but we are also consoled that many of them are still alive,” Dare said

“Another import of the award is that it will encourage the younger athletes and indeed Nigerians in other fields to always give their best to the country, knowing that their efforts would be appreciated by the country.”

Read Also: NIGERIA @60: Sports Ministry to celebrate 60 sporting icons for 60 days

The Minister also appealed to other deserving awardees who may not have been voted for in the first edition to be patient, assuring that they could also be rewarded in subsequent editions.

“I appreciate the effort the collation committee at arriving at these 60 names because the truth is that there are so many more deserving Nigerians but for the fact that we wanted to restrict the number to 60 to commemorate the Diamond jubilee of our country.” Dare stated.

The event which will hold at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on Friday October 16th 2020 is expected to be graced by President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as well some of the awardees and members of their families.

The committee received over 3,500 nominations via votes made on various social media platforms, on television, and on radio.

For the event, arrangements are also being made to have the programme live on television, radio and live streaming on various social medial platforms.

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