All is set for the eleventh edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards. As you read this, the organisers have concluded arrangements to hold the Award Ceremony after the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Warriors of Zimbabwe on 25th March 2025. Although the match will be played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the award ceremony will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
The Award Ceremony will see the announcement of winners in 18 award categories. In addition to unveiling of winners for all award categories, the organisers will also honor two distinguished Nigerians with the ‘Special Achievement in Sports Award’ for their contributions to the development of sports in the country. The two are Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission who will be honoured for his contributions to the growth of sports in the country. Same will also go to AIG Garba Baba Umar (rtd).
In this special report, CHARLES NWAGBARA presents 11 special records you didn’t know about the Nigeria Pitch Awards at 11…
- VICTOR OSIMHEN’S TRIPLE AS ‘KING OF THE PITCH’
For now, no one has won the biggest crown (King of the Pitch) more than Galatasaray FC forward, Victor Osimhen. Osimhen has picked the awards three times, back to back. He won the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions. This year, he is also nominated and may push the record to FOUR if he wins. Osimhen also holds the record in the STRIKER OF THE YEAR category having won it 4 times. - FROM MATCHMAKERS TO LENDERS
In 2013 Mr. Shina Phillips and his team, launched the Nigeria Pitch Awards under the Matchmakers Consult International company. Eight years down the line, the parent company in charge of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, rebranded to Lenders International Consult in line with the expanding world view of the organisers. - ABOUT ASISAT OSHOALA’S AMAZING RECORD
It will require another female footballer to win consecutively over the next seven editions to unseat gangling forward, the real ‘agba baller’ and Bay FC forward, Asisat Oshoala as the record holder in the Queen of the Pitch category. Asisat has won the category a whopping seven (7) times. - LAGOS STATE AS THE TRUE CENTER OF FOOTBALL EXCELLENCE
Since inception in 2013, Lagos State has proven to be the real center of excellence as it has won “the state with Best Grassroots Football Development Programme” ten(10) times. Interestingly, the state is nominated again in this edition and may stretch the record further if she wins. - MEET THE STATE THAT HAS HOSTED THE MOST
Akwa Ibom State holds the record as the state that has hosted the most-three times. The event has always held in Uyo the state capital but this year, the event is holding in Ikot Ekpene another major city in Akwa Ibom State. - ABOUT THE STUNNING BRACE IN THE ‘FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR’ AWARD CATEGORY
In the ten(10) years since the category has existed, it has produced a record brace of awards going to five Governors. Former Cross River governor Liyel Imoke won it 2 times, former Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel won 2 times, former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike holds 2 awards, Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has picked it twice as well as former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa-2 times. Interestingly, Lagos State governor, Mr. Sanwo-Olu has a chance to move past the other former governors as he is nominated for this 11th edition. - SHINA PHILLIPS/LENDERS CONSULT’S OTHER COOKIES YOU DON’T KNOW
Lenders International Consult apart from hosting the Nigeria Pitch Awards, also run other gigs in the entertainment, security and other matters. Lenders Consult are partners with the Nigeria Police Force for the annual Senior Police Officers Conference and Retreat. They also partner the Nigeria Police on other matters. Lenders Consult is finalising events to host a pan African award in 2025 called the LAMP awards. Shina Phillips, is a FIFA licensed footballer agent. - PITCH AWARDS AND SIAO: TEN YEARS OF UNINTERRUPTED PARTNERSHIP
In the beginning, the Nigeria Pitch Awards partnered an accounting firm-BDO for the first edition of the awards in 2013. But from 2014 till date, the awards has retained the Pastor Ituah Ighodalo-led SIAO Partners. SIAO partners create the voting forms, and audit the nominations and winning votes-one of the reasons why the awards has remained the most credible and transparent in Nigeria. - WILFRED NDIDI/TROOST-EKONG AS THE REAL DEALS IN MIDFIELD/DEFENCE
Guys, we have a midfield specialist. His name is Wilfred Ndidi. Ndidi who plies his trade with English Premier League side, Leicester City has won the MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR category for a record 5 times. His closest rival, Alex Iwobi has picked the prize 2 times only. In the same vein, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, holds sway in the DEFENDER OF THE YEAR category. Emong who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Kholood has won the category 3 times. - SEE THE PEOPLE WHO PUSH FOOTBALL TO GREATER HEIGHTS IN NIGERIA
Aiteo Group are the real backers of Nigerian football. The college of voters have voted them as winners of CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL, four times. They have been winners more times than GTI, MTN, BetNaija and others in the last ten years. - HOW JOURNALISTS HAVE FAIRED IN TEN YEARS
The media category of the Nigeria Pitch Awards is split into Radio, Television, Print and Online. The Online is the youngest sub category having been introduced some four editions ago. Tana Aiyejina holds the highest record wins in the PRINT category-5 times. He’s chased hotly in the category by Johnny Edward who has won 4 times. In the RADIO sub category, Olawale Adigun and Anthony Bekederemo hold the joint record of 3 wins apiece followed by Bimbo Adeola who has picked the statuette 2 times. The Television sub category has produced Austin Okon-Akpan as 4 times winner, with Mozez Praiz winning 3 times and Toyin Ibitoye winning 2 times. In the four years since the Online category was introduced, Samuel Ahmadu and Tobi Adepoju have shared the crown 2 apiece.
