As part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary, the Federal Government is scheduled to honour 60 Nigeria sports greats, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

In a release by the ministry of youth and sports development Tuesday, it notes that the 60 Nigerian sports icons and personalities to be honoured are those that have won laurels  for  the country and those that have made meaningful  impact on sports development in the last sixty years. 

The event is part of activities organised by the Federal government to celebrate   Nigeria’s  Diamond jubilee .

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare while receiving the Report of the Committee set up to collate the votes by Nigerians for the  60 awardees said the event was initiated  to reward excellence and hard work.

“We initiated this award because of the need to reward our heroes and heroines who have sweated to put the name of Nigeria on the world map. Unfortunately most of these patriots have died, but we are also consoled that many  of them are still alive.

“Another import of the award is that it will encourage the younger athletes and indeed Nigerians in other fields to always give their best to the country, knowing that their efforts would be appreciated by the country”.  

The Minister  appealed to other deserving awardees who may not have been voted for  in the first edition to be patient, assuring  that they could also be rewarded in subsequent editions.

“I appreciate the effort the collation  committee at  arriving  at these 60 names because the truth is that there are so many more deserving Nigerians but for the fact that we wanted to restrict the number to 60 to commemorate the Diamond jubilee of our country”. Dare stated. 

The event which will hold at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on  Friday October  16th 2020   is expected  to be graced by President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as well  some of the awardees  and members of  their families.

The committee received over 3,500 nominations who were voted for through  various social  media channels, television, radio and other  platforms.

Arrangements  are being made  to have the programme live on television, radio and  live streaming on various social medial platforms

Nigeria on October 1st, 2020 marked her 60th Independence Day Anniversary. The country got her freedom from erstwhile colonialists, Britain.