The Nigeria Sports Federation (NSF), USA has been recognized for their impact on grassroots football development
at the 2nd edition of the grassroots African awards and conference which held in Lagos on Saturday 28th of November.
The conference with the theme: ‘Covid-19 pandemic: A call to rescue humanity’ focused on the need to revive society through a critical and strategic engagement after the deadly blow of the coronavirus.
Technocrats, who formed the panel of discussion from the public and the private world all recommended the need to start the post-Covid-19 restoration agenda from the grassroots as it remains an integral part of society.
Olatoye Olawale, Managing Partner of Sportflames communication and the Coordinator of NSF-USA in Nigeria who received the award on behalf of the organization lauded the initiative of the grassroots award forum as he noted that the recognition will spur them to do more.
Olatoye, a sports journalist of repute who was also a panelist at the event stated that it is high time the people at the grassroots receive their due recognition as a way of rewarding their contribution to the development of society adding that they are the foundation of everything.
Nigeria Soccer Federation, the United States-based sports forum with a focus on sports development in Nigeria through its partners, Sportflames Communications and GIS Sports had distributed Covid-19 relief package to a total number of 400 Non-League football players in Lagos state last month.
The gesture which received a wide range of 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,
Honorable Johnson Babatunde Executive Chairman, Orile Agege local council development area of Lagos State, and Mr. Deji Bademosi, the CEO of TV360.