Nigeria Pitch Awards launch Annual Sports Conference, rename Top Honour after Rashidi Yekini

By Dayo Awoniyi

The organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have unveiled plans for an annual sports conference to precede each edition of the awards ceremony, marking a significant expansion of their commitment to sports development and stakeholder engagement in Nigeria.

The announcement was made on Monday during a Special Luncheon held at BON Hotel, Ikeja, where partners, sponsors, and members of the College of Voters were honoured ahead of the forthcoming 12th edition of the awards.

Among the notable guests were Dr. Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); Mr. Oluwadare Ojelabi, Director of Audit and Assurance at SIAO Partners; alongside leading sports editors, broadcasters, and pundits from across the country.

Speaking at the event, Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, described the awards’ evolution as a product of perseverance and collective passion.

“The journey to the 12th edition of the awards is the story of determination — a collective effort to create a lasting platform that celebrates footballers, administrators, and supporters who drive the game’s growth,” Philips said.

He revealed that the newly established Annual Sports Conference will serve as a national platform for dialogue on sports development, policy reform, and investment, providing administrators and stakeholders with opportunities to reposition the industry.

In a move to honour Nigerian football legend Rashidi Yekini, Philips also announced that the Striker of the Year Award will henceforth be renamed the Rashidi Yekini Award, immortalising the country’s all-time top scorer, who netted 37 goals in 62 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Voting for the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards will officially open on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

Delivering goodwill messages, Dr. Olajire commended the consistency and transparency of the awards, while Mr. Ojelabi reaffirmed SIAO Partners’ long-standing commitment to auditing the voting process as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, a role they have upheld since 2014.

Since debuting in Calabar in 2013, the Nigeria Pitch Awards have earned a reputation as one of the country’s most credible and respected platforms for recognising excellence both on and off the pitch.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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