Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s support for sport as a tool for national development and youth engagement, speaking at the 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards in Lagos, where Victor Osimhen collected the night’s top individual honours.
Key takeaways
- Lagos Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani delivered Disu’s message at the ceremony in Ikeja.
- Osimhen won both the Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker and the King of the Pitch prize.
- Rasheedat Ajibade was named Queen of the Pitch after her club and international performances.
- The 2026 voting process will open in December, with the next ceremony scheduled for 2027.
- An Emerging Star Award for players aged under 18 will be introduced at the next edition.
Police chief links sport with crime prevention
Disu said the police remain committed to expanding and encouraging sporting activity throughout Nigeria, arguing that public safety and sports advancement are closely connected.
He made the remarks on Tuesday night at the Ibis Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, during the 12th staging of the Nigeria Pitch Awards. Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Tijani attended the event on behalf of the inspector general.
The police chief described sport as a practical means of steering young Nigerians away from criminal activity and praised the organisers for keeping the awards alive since their launch in 2012.
Disu, himself an accomplished judoka with domestic and international honours, also praised Nigeria Pitch Awards president Dr Shina Phillips for his continued dedication to the project.
He commended the fairness and openness of the awards’ voting arrangements, saying comparable principles had been applied at the police games staged in Asaba, Delta State.
Although policing remains the Force’s central responsibility, Disu said the Nigeria Police Force has a longstanding relationship with sport. He added that sporting participation helps support officers’ physical condition and mental wellbeing.
While congratulating the evening’s recipients, he urged the other nominees to remain committed to improving their work. Disu said the police were pleased to be connected with the awards.
Organisers set out plans for the next edition
In his opening address, Phillips apologised for the late arrival of the ceremony and explained that the honours recognised achievements from the 2025 football season.
He said voting for the 2026 awards would start in December. The 13th ceremony will take place in 2027, with a symposium planned before the presentation.
Phillips praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reforms affecting Nigeria’s football regulatory bodies and urged football stakeholders, particularly the media, to help strengthen the initiative. He also unveiled the Emerging Star Award, which will debut at the next ceremony and recognise the country’s most outstanding footballers below the age of 18.
He expressed appreciation to the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, SIAO Partners and the Nigerian media for their backing. Phillips again defended the reliability of the voting system, saying it was administered by a College of Voters comprising sports editors from across the country. He added that the voting pattern would be released after the event as part of the transparency measures.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, represented at the ceremony by Lagos Liaison Officer Anthony Isonguyo, dedicated his Football Friendly Governor of the Year honour to the state’s athletes, coaches and young people.
Eno’s administration, he said, had invested in the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, modernised sporting infrastructure and created Youth Development Centres in all 31 local government areas. Those centres have trained and supported more than 10,000 young people and small-business owners, according to the governor’s representative.
NFF representative Demola Olajire looked back on the awards’ 14-year journey, recalling ceremonies in Uyo, Kaduna, Calabar, Asaba and Abuja despite the difficulties faced during the early years.
Olajire identified the integrity of the process, overseen by SIAO Partners, as a major reason for the federation’s continued association with the event. He also recognised veteran sports journalist Chief Ade Ojekere for his long-term contribution to the awards.
Osimhen and Ajibade lead list of winners
Galatasaray S.K. striker Victor Osimhen was the outstanding winner, taking home the Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker of the Year as well as the King of the Pitch award. Paris Saint-Germain Féminine forward Rasheedat Ajibade received the Queen of the Pitch honour for her impressive displays at club and national-team level.
Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United F.C. was selected as Goalkeeper of the Year, while Fulham F.C. defender Calvin Bassey claimed the Defender of the Year prize. Bassey’s Fulham teammate Alex Iwobi won Midfielder of the Year.
Remo Stars F.C. took the Team of the Year award, and Justine Madugu, head coach of the Super Falcons, was named Coach of the Year.
Lagos State received the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme award. The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was voted Football Pitch of the Year. Eno’s Football Friendly Governor of the Year recognition was also among the governance and development honours.
MTN Nigeria was named Corporate Sponsor of Football. The Nigeria Police Force and the Niger Delta Development Commission shared the Special Achievement in Sports award, while Hon. Kunle Soname collected both the Sam Okwaraji Award and the Sportsmanship Award.
The ceremony also recognised members of the media for their work covering Nigerian football. Charles Diya of New Telegraph Newspapers won the print category’s Football Journalist of the Year award, while Cecilia Omorogbe of Channels TV took the television prize.
Anthony Bekederemo of Brila 88.9 FM was named Radio Journalist of the Year, and Samuel Ahmadu of Savid News/Nigeriafootball.ng won the Online Journalist of the Year award.
