By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Style & Sports Correspondent)
The Nigeria Sports Federation (NSF)-USA has been recognized for its impact on grassroots football development at the 2nd edition of the grassroots African awards and conference which held in Lagos over the weekend.
The conference with the theme: ‘Covid-19 pandemic: A call to rescue humanity’ focused on the need to revive the society through a critical and strategic engagement after the deadly blow of the coronavirus.
Technocrats, who formed the panel of discussion from public and private world all recommended the need to start post Covid-19 restoration agenda from the grassroot as it remains an integral part of the society.
Olatoye Olawale, Managing Partner of Sportflames communication and the Coordinator of NSF-USA in Nigeria while receiving the award on behalf of the organisation, lauded the initiative of the grassroots award forum as he noted that the recognition will spur them to do more.
Olatoye, a sports journalist and entrepreneur who was also a panelist at the event stated that it was high time the people at the grassroots receive their due recognition as a way of rewarding their contribution to the development of the society adding that they are foundation of everything.
NSF, a United States-based sports forum with focus on sports development in Nigeria through its partners, Sportflames Communications and GIS Sports had in October distributed Covid-19 relief package to a total number of 400 Non-League football players in Lagos state.
The gesture which received wide range commendations from all the stakeholders is the first of its kind as the federation philanthropically identified with youth players in order to give them a sense of belonging.
NSF-USA, who annually celebrates Nigeria’s independence with a football tournament in the United States had decided to doll out palliatives as a way of cushioning the effect of the novel Coronavirus on players in the grassroots as the tourney couldn’t hold due to pandemic.
Some of the guests at the event include Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal Abisogun 11, Oniru of Iruland, Madam Farida Tahir, MD/CEO, Grassroots Microfinance Bank Limited, Kano State who was the guest speaker, Honourable Johnson Babatunde.
Executive Chairman, Orile Agege local council development area of Lagos State and Mr Deji Bademosi, the CEO of TV360.
