Some of Nigeria’s long forgotten ex-athletes are in for some refreshing breath of air, as one of Nigeria leading airlines, Air Peace, has concluded grand plans to celebrate and recognise these carefully selected past heroes of Nigeria sports, during an upcoming event later this month.
The event, which is the brainchild of a former Nigeria international football legend, Chief Segun Odegbami, would see the 1976 Olympics team athletes who were recalled on the eve of the games, due to apartheid in South Africa, as well as members of the 1980 African Nations Cup winning team being rewarded
According to reports, Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said arrangements have been concluded to bestow honours on some of the forgotten athletes.
Chief Segun Odegbami further disclosed that the athletes who would become ambassadors of Air Peace, will also enjoy free flights of the airline 12 times to and fro in one year and also one international flight plus cash reward at the special event slated for July 28, 2023.
Odegbami added that the decision to write the names of all these athletes in gold would also mark a turn-around in the lives of the beneficiaries.
“This is a very good initiative. It is very great to recall that the 1976 Olympics team did not win any medal, but they are being honoured now for their patriotism. It was open for us then to decide to compete as individuals but there was the collective decision to respect the stand of Nigeria by boycotting the games.”
Chief Odegbami recalled that the team had great athletes including boxers like Davidson Andeh, Obisia Nwakpa and the all-conquering football team who were rearing to go for the ultimate prizes, before the dreams were cut short.
“In future, I expect more corporate organisations to emulate Air Peace by coming up with initiatives that will put smiles on the faces of former athletes,” the highly regarded and very resourceful, former Nigeria and African football star advised.
