“Night of Tributes” Set to Honor Fallen Sports Heroes

Lagos, Nigeria – The countdown has begun for a solemn “Night of Tributes” dedicated to celebrating the lives and legacies of Nigeria’s departed sports heroes. The event, generously sponsored by Airpeace, is scheduled for Monday, July 28th, 2025, at the Main Auditorium and ‘Wall of NIIA Sports Diplomacy’ at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), located at 13/15 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The ceremony will run from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with guests advised to be seated by 5:30 PM.

The evening promises to be a dignified affair, featuring spiritual guidance from Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Founder of Trinity House, Lagos. Musical tributes will be rendered by talented artists including Yinka Davies, Faith Ifunaya, Dancia Ngozi, and others, while Deji Omotoyinbo will serve as the Master of Ceremony, guiding the proceedings.

This “Night of Tributes” is specifically organized to honor five distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to Nigerian sports: Christian Chukwu MFR, OLY, Peter Rufai MON, Obisia Nwakpa, Charles Bassey MON, and Moses Effiong MON. The choice of these five individuals highlights their impact across various sporting disciplines, from football to boxing.

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A Structured and Timely Event
Organizers emphasize that the program will commence promptly at 6:00 PM and conclude around 9:00 PM. The event will be covered live on radio and streamed online, with a recording for television broadcast, ensuring no delays. Invitations have been extended to VIPs, family members, and key stakeholders, with specific seating reserved for them.

While attendance is free for the general public, entry will be restricted once the hall reaches its capacity. A dedicated area will also be reserved for three representatives from each of the five honored families. An official program outlining the event’s rundown will be provided to each family beforehand.

Tributes: A Structured Homage
The core of the evening will be the tributes, which will be delivered in a structured manner. There will be five distinct segments, one for each late sports hero, with tributes presented in the following order: Moses Effiong MON, Charles Bassey MON, Obisia Nwakpa, Peter Rufai MON, and Christian Chukwu MFR, OLY.

Speakers are encouraged to come with a written tribute to ensure adherence to the maximum allowed time of three minutes, with each tribute ideally lasting about two minutes. Only identified and approved individuals will deliver tributes, with selections based on requests and responses received by the organizers.

Individuals or organizations wishing to pay tribute must contact the undersigned, the NIIA, or Airpeace to indicate their interest and secure approval. They will need to explain their relationship with the honored hero or be nominated by the family. It is important to note that requests for tributes may be approved or declined at the organizers’ discretion.

For security and decorum, “hoodlums” will not be permitted near the venues, and there will be no party or entertainment following the event. One appointed representative from the five families will speak on their collective behalf during the ceremony.

For any further inquiries or information, interested parties can contact Peter at 0909 556 6003 or Marlyn at 0807 293 8288.

The event is being spearheaded by Ambassador, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami MON, OLY, AFNIIA, FNIS, a prominent figure in Nigerian sports, who is deeply involved in ensuring a befitting tribute to these national icons.