Mikel, Oshoala, Quadri, others picked for Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence

• Zenith Sports, Haggai join list of sponsors
Seven Nigerian sportsmen and women, who distinguished themselves in their various events this year, have been nominated for the maiden Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence (NASE). The award ceremony will hold on Saturday at Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

A statement issued in Lagos and signed by the Chairman of the Award Committee, Prince Isidore Oduah, named the nominees as Super Eagles’ Skipper Mikel Obi; mesmerising winger, Victor Moses; veteran striker, Obafemi Martins; as well as safe hands, Carl Ikeme and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

Others are goal queen, Asisat Oshoala and tennis sensation, Aruna Quadri.

“This has been a tremendous year of remarkable achievements for Nigerian sports. While we congratulate the entire community of Nigerian sportsmen and women for their exploits this year, we are happy to celebrate the above outstanding seven in the hope that this will motivate them and others to work even harder – not only for the sake of their respective careers, but also for the collective interest of Nigerian sports,” said Prince Oduah, a former Executive Committee Member of the Nigeria Football Association (now known as NFF).

“Names of other nominated sports stakeholders, including administrators and corporate bodies contributing significantly to the development and growth of Nigerian sports, will be unveiled in the days ahead as we count down to the award ceremony,” Prince Oduah stated.

Meanwhile, leading sports equipment firms, Zenith Sports Limited and Haggai Sports, have joined the list of sponsors of the awards.

The sponsorship deal was finalised on Thursday, November 23, when a high-powered NASE delegation visited the corporate headquarters of Zenith Sports at 92, Ojuelegba Road, Lagos.

“We are happy to partner with the Nigerian Awards for Sporting Excellence in our common goal of taking Nigerian sports to higher heights,” Zenith Sports Managing Director, Mr. Paul Maduakor, said at the occasion.

On his part, NASE Administrator, Mr. Isaac Umunna, who led the delegation, expressed appreciation for the sponsorship of the Zenith Sports Group. “We are honoured and humbled to enjoy the confidence of a foremost establishment like the Zenith Sports Group and we look forward to working together with you to take Nigerian sports to the level where it ought to be,” Umunna said.

Zenith Sports are renowned dealers in sport wears, fitness equipment, skateboard, jersey, customised sport wears and shoes. Haggai, a subsidiary of Zenith Sports, boasts the first automated high-speed sportswear factory in Nigeria, a new dimension in indigenous sportswear manufacturing.