Bayo Adegboyega
Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Hon. Bukola Olopade has won the Trailblazer Award for his giant stride in ensuring that Ogun State becomes a hub for road races.
Hon. Olopade who is a former sports commissioner in the gateway state with the support of the state government and notable corporate bodies introduced the Abeokuta 10 KM Road race as well as the ValueJet Remo Ultra Race in 2019, the first time in the history of the state that road races will take centre stage.
The Award is an initiative of Sports Writers Association Of Nigeria, SWAN, Ogun State chapter as part of activities marking its SWAN week for year 2020 where other notable individuals like veteran Sports Journalist and coordinator, MAPOLY Radio, Deacon Kunle Oluwusi who bagged the Role Model in Sports Journalism award, Ogun State born team Nigeria Paralympian who is expected to represent the country as a Para Table Tennis Player at the Tokyo 2022 event, Isau Ogunkunle, Chairman of First August construction company Engineer Mutiu Adebowale, sports Administrator Prince Tunji Onatolu among others were also honoured.
Honourable Olopade’s award was presented to him in Abeokuta on Thursday by the Chairman of Ogun SWAN, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde.
On the part of Ogun SWAN Chairman, he said “No doubt, this is an award that comes without any controversy as it is purely on merit, the road races were first of its kind and they didn’t go unnoticed”
In his own remark, Honourable Olopade appreciated Ogun SWAN for the recognition, he added that the award is a call to service to get better in all spheres.
“Firstly, I appreciate Ogun SWAN, not only for the award, but for always putting everyone on their toes to ensure that the development of sports in the state is a continuum”
“At Nilayo Sports Management Limited, we will always ensure what comes out from our team comes with quality and we aim to get better Subsequently as there is always a room for improvement”.
The Great Abeokuta 10 KM Road race and the ValueJet Remo Ultra Race did not hold in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the two events has however been scheduled to return in 2021.
The second edition of the Great Abeokuta 10KM Race which is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and World Athletics (WA) is scheduled for November 13, 2021, while the ValueJet IAU African Championship (Remo Ultra Race) will come up on December 4, 2020
