Nigeria Pitch Awards chart new path for sports growth with annual conference

Femi Fabunmi 

The organisers of the popular Nigeria Pitch Awards, Lenders Consults International, have announced plans to introduce an Annual Sports Conference ahead of the 12th edition of the prestigious event.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Dr. Shina Philips, said the new sports conference will be held every year before the main award ceremony.

He explained that the event will feature local and international speakers who will share ideas on how to develop sports in Nigeria.

“Our goal is to use the conference to renew and refocus national attention on sports,” Philips said. “We also want to create opportunities for administrators, investors, and government officials to work together to grow the sports sector.”

He added that the conference would make the Pitch Awards more than just a platform for honouring athletes, but also a major contributor to the overall development of sports across the country.

“The Nigeria Pitch Awards have grown over the years through hard work and commitment from everyone involved since 2012,” Philips said. “We thank the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, our partners, voters, and past winners for their continued support.”

Voting for this year’s awards will start on Wednesday, October 30, and end on November 18, while the award ceremony is scheduled to hold in Lagos on December 22.

Philips, however, noted that the date could be adjusted slightly because the Super Eagles will play their first 2025 AFCON match on December 23.

SIAO Partners, the auditing firm responsible for collating and verifying votes, assured that the process will remain transparent and credible.
A representative of the firm, Mr. Oluwadare Ojelade, said:

“This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.

We ensure that every winner truly reflects the choice of the voters, and we handle the process with full professionalism.”

Since its start in 2012, the Nigeria Pitch Awards have maintained a strong reputation as one of Nigeria’s most transparent and respected sports recognition platforms.

With the introduction of the annual sports conference, the organisers say they aim to honour excellence, inspire collaboration, and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s sports industry.