The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, has hailed the Nigeria Police Force as the best contributor to the development of sports in the entire history of Nigeria.
Mohammed disclosed this at the 1st Police Awards ceremony held at the Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja on Friday.
A happy IGP said openly at the ceremony: “We have produced champions for Nigeria and no organization can contest that but I want to put it on record that we don’t buy sports men and women.”
Presenting the award to recipients, Abubakar assured that the Nigeria Police would continue to produce athletes for the country for international competitions.
He added: “There is no organization in Nigeria today that can boast of and is more proud than the police in terms of sports development for Nigeria.
“That is why we decided for the first time in the history of the police to appreciate you for your support, contributions and partnership that works.
“We are indeed grateful to the sports men and women in the Nigerian Police today, serving and retired, for your contributions and for making the police what it is today in terms of sports development.”
The police boss also stated that all his predecessors have developed, nurtured and produced winners for the country.
“What the country needs to do is to allow young men and women who are talented in sports to grow and flourish like flowers and make Nigeria great,” Abubakar said.
No fewer than 137 serving and retired officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, including late Sunday Bada; Chioma Ajunwa; former Green Eagles star, Sunny Oyarekhua; and force sports officer, Sani Mohammed, were honoured at the maiden Police Sports Award ceremony held the Police Force headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.
Five categories of awards, including Corporate/Friends of the Police Award and Retired Officers for Sports Award, were presented.
Others were Award for Police Management Team, Post-Humours Award for Officers for Sports and Serving Police Officers in Planning Committee Award.
A total of 46 officers and men who distinguished themselves in sports before their death were presented with the post-humours awards.
Late Force Sports Officer, Sanomi Dickens; Sydney 2000 Olympics gold medalist, late Sunday Bada, were among the post-humours award recipients.
Trending
- EPL: Arsenal hammer Chelsea to move three points clear at the top
- Breaking: Nigeria loses another veteran Nollywood actor
- Minister summons Lead British International School over bullying allegation
- Sex scandal : We won’t oppose any sanction against lecturer -UNN-ASUU
- Sanwo-Olu unveils EKO CARES
- UNN suspends lecturer for alleged sexual misconduct, begins probe
- Oyo LG honours Archbishop Ladigbolu, names road after late father, Akee Obayanritan
- Kogi Assembly blasts EFCC, demands removal of ‘wanted’ from Yahaya Bello’s name