By Segun Odegbami
The countdown has begun.
This is a foot-note for those that intend to attend and those that desire to pay a tribute to any of the late Sports Heroes at the ‘Night of Tributes’ event sponsored by Air Peace.
The event is on Monday, 29 July 2025.
Venue: Main Auditorium and ‘Wall of NIIA Sports Diplomacy’, NIIA,
13/15 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm (advisable for all be seated from 5:30pm)
Minister: Pastor Ituah Ighodalo,
Founder, Trinity House, Lagos.
Music: Yinka Davies, Faith Ifunaya, Dancia Ngozi, and others
Master of Ceremony: Deji Omotoyinbo
The Event
A. The entire programme shall start on the dot of 6:00pm and end at about 9:00 pm.
B. It will be covered live on radio and online via streaming and recorded for TV. There shall, therefore, be no delays in timing.
C. Invitations to VIPs’, Family members and key stakeholders have been sent, and specific seats for those shall be reserved.
D. Attendance is free for the public, but people can only occupy the free seats available in the auditorium.
E. Entry will be restricted as soon as the hall is full!
F. A special area and seats will be reserved for the 3 representatives of each of the 5 families. Others can sit anywhere else.
G. An official programme showing the rundown of the event shall be given to each family before the day of the event.
D. The MC shall compere and conduct the entire event.
Tributes
There shall be a specific number of tributes for each of the Sports heroes during the event, and these will not be randomly done.
There shall be 5 segments, a segement for each of the 5 late Sports Heroes.
It is better to come with a written tribute and to read it, so that speakers do not talk for longer than the maximum time allowed of 3 mins each.
Only identified and specified persons shall deliver tributes during the event. The selection is in response to the requests and responses received.
Each tribute shall be about 2 mins long, but not exceeding 3 mins.
The tributes shall be delivered in this order:
1. Moses Effiong MON
2. Charles Bassey MON
3. Obisia Nwakpa
4. Peter Rufai MON
5. Christian Chukwu MFR, OLY
Any person or organisation desirous of paying a tribute must get in touch with the under-signed, or the NIIA, or Air Peace, must indicate so, and secure an approval. They must explain their relationship with the hero; or be nominated by the family.
Requests may be approved, or not.
No hoodlums shall be allowed near the venues.
There is no party or any entertainment after the event.
One person, appointed by the 5 families, shall speak on behalf of the families at the event.
For any additional enquiry or information kindly contact any of the following:
Peter – 0909 556 6003
Marlyn – 0807 293 8288
Ambassador, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami MON, OLY, AFNIIA, FNIS
