Nigeria Pitch Awards confirm plans for a sports summit

●Rashidi Yekini award returns

Organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have announced plans to host an annual sports conference preceding the awards. By the arrangement, a sports conference will now precede the annual awards which will hold in its 12^th edition this year.

The additional programme was announced on Monday when Lenders Consult International (the parent company of the organisers) held a special luncheon to fete partners and members of the College of Voters at the BON Hotel, Ikeja.

The President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Shina Philips told the gathering, “At our inaugural press conference in 2012, we promised that the Nigeria Pitch Awards platform would offer Nigerians more than awards. Building on our vision to provide more and improve sports in Nigeria, we are pleased to announce our annual sports conference. This has been in the works for a long time. The conference, which will precede the annual Award Ceremony, will attract local and international speakers. Our vision is to make the gathering a unique opportunity to renew and re-focus national attention on sports in Nigeria and open up avenues for administrators to harness the opportunities sports provide. We will outline more details of this project in the coming months.”

The detailed plans to host the 12th edition of the prestigious awards were also revealed.

While addressing guests at the occasion, Philips commended the partners and members of the College of Voters from across the country for their commitment to the growth of the awards.

“The journey to the 12th edition of the awards is the story of the determination of all stakeholders to establish and sustain a reward platform for our footballers, administrators, football lovers, and supporters.”

Philips also confirmed that the Striker of the Year Award would henceforth be renamed the “Rashidi Yekini Award” in honour of the late Super Eagles goal poacher. Rashidi Yekini remains Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorer with 37 goals in 62 appearances.

The organizers have further confirmed that voting for the 12th edition will kick off on Wednesday, 29 October 2025. The Nigeria Pitch Awards have recognized and honoured Nigeria’s top on-the-pitch and off-the-pitch performers in football since 2013.

The event was attended by Dr. Ademola Olajire, Director of Communication of the Nigeria Football Federation; Mr. Oluwadare Ojelabi, Director of Audit and Assurance at SIAO Partners; and top sports editors, TV and radio sports presenters, pundits, and columnists.

Olajire, who represented the Nigeria Football Federation, expressed the Federation’s satisfaction with the standard and procedure that the organizers have established since its inception in Calabar in 2013.

While delivering his goodwill message, Mr. Ojelabi, the Director of Audit and Assurance of SIAO Partners, restated the accounting firm’s readiness to continue to support the football awards, noting that it was part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. SIAO Partners have been involved in collating and auditing the entire voting process since 2014.

Caption

Nelson Olafisoye, Coordinator, Nigeria Pitch Awards, Dr Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications of the NFF, Ms Cecilia Omorogbe, of Channels TV, Dr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, and Mr. Oluwadare Ojelade, Director, Audit and Assurance, SIAO Partners