In honour of his leadership ideology and high administrative prudence in the field of sports, the Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Abba Yola has been conferred with the prestigious Thomas Sankara Leadership Prize for Pan – African Icon of Sports Renaissance Award.
Director Press and Public Relations, in the ministry Mohammed Manga in a statement issued on Monday said at the award ceremony held in Abuja over the weekend the President, Youth Partnership For Africa’s Development (YOUPAD), Honourable Coulibaly Hameed described him as a consummate Pan Africanist.
Hameed further commended him for his well articulated policies which has positively transformed sports development in various capacities of his services to Nigeria, as well as his leadership with zero tolerance for corruption, nepotism and favoritism.
Past illustrious recipients of the prize, he stated, include President Umar Al-Bashir of Sudan, Inspector General of Police of Nigeria (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and Professor Chukwuma Ozumba, amongst other distinguished Africans.
In his acceptance speech, the award recipient, Alhaji Abba Yola attributed the recognition to the doggedness and pragmatic approach of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare and President Muhammadu Buhari in particular.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the doggedness of my boss, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare as well as the full support of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR who is the father of Sports in the.contemporary Nigeria ” he said.
According to him, sports is a natural fit for him as he has been involved in different levels of its management and administration, from State to Federal capacities.
While commending the Youth Partnership for Africa’s Development for the honour, the Minister’s Chief of Staff said, “this award will no doubt encourage me to continue to do what I know best, contribute to the development of our youth through sports”.