BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
Renowned Lagos based Football Academy, Paddysco Sports Academy has rewarded 27 distinguished personalities for their outstanding contributions in sports at their 2025 PS Showcase Award held Sunday, June 15, at the prestigious Garden Top Hotel, Amuwo Odofin.
The event, which drew plaudits from various dignitaries that attended the grandeur occasion, was a unique opportunity for Paddysco to make a huge but lasting impression outside the remarkable work they have been doing in football, swimming, dancing, singing amongst others in their total commitment to discovering and nurturing young talents to stardom, which they didn’t disappoint.
Why speaking during the occasion, Nigeria National League (NNL) chairman, George Aluo, who chaired the occasion, called on well -meaning Nigerians, cooperate bodies and government to support groups like Paddysco which he said their programs are in line with that of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
He affirmed the abundant availability of talents in Nigeria but decried the lack of harnessing them early enough as Paddysco is doing as being the major bane of the country.
“Talents have never been Nigeria’s problem as we have them in quantum. The issue has been harnessing these talents very early, Aluo said.
“I will encourage individuals, companies, business men, government to support ideas like Paddysco.
“The young children that just finished performing can compete anywhere in the world among their peers”, he noted.
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Paddysco, Peter Okereke said Nigeria doesn’t have the culture of rewarding or saying thank you to those that deserves it, which is why Paddysco has taken it upon themself to reward these group of persons, administrators, parents, individuals who have been truly outstanding by all sense of the word.
He used the occasion to thank them again for their contributions, support and commitment towards the development of the young ones.
“Nigeria is really not good at rewarding people which is what Paddysco is trying to change. When you recognize and reward people, they are encouraged to do more, Okereke enthused.
“I thank people like Hajji Gafar Liameed, the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, George Aluo, NNL chairman, Marshall Mbre, CEO Flying Sports Academy, Chief Frank Nwaka amongst others.
Some of the awardees for the night include Gafar Liameed, who was awarded PS Legendary Football Administrator, Chief Frank Nwaka received the award of Passionate Sports Personality while High Chief (Dr.) Michael Orobosa Ubogu snapped up Youth Development Champion Award.
Hon. Fatai Adekunle Ayoola was given Sports Development Icon Award, as Hon. Onyeka Okaro got the Football Ambassador award, while Mrs. Juliet Chinwendu Anunobi received Innovator of the Year Award, Marshall Mbre won the Sports Mentorship Award while McAnthony Anuforo Anaelechukwu was named as the Sports Revolutionary to mention a few.
The award is an annual event which is in its second edition, as organizers has promised a bigger and better event next year.
