THE International Association Of World Peace Advocates IAWPA has said it will be honouring lots of Nigerian athletes at part of its plans to observe this year’s International Day of Sports For Development and Peace.
The global peace advocacy group with Special Consultative Status under the Economic and Social Council ECOSOC of the United Nations through its International Spokesman Amb Emmanuel Nkweke made this known in a press statement made available to news men in Abuja, Wednesday.
According to the statement, the event will be held in Enugu state Nigeria on Saturday the 6th of April 2024 with the state Governors His Excellency Peter Mbah expected as the Special Guest of Honour.
Amb Nkweke added that in order to encourage upcoming athletes as well as raise awareness of the importance of sports to peace, the association has put machinery in motion towards recognizing the efforts of Nigerian athletes whose efforts have impacted on peace and development.
It specifically mentioned the skipper of the Nigerian senior male team Ahmed Musa, the current African footballer of the year and Napoli of Italy star Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles goal keeper Stanley Nwabali, Super Falcons and former Barcelona Women star Assisat Oshoala and Rangers FC of Enugu which is the oldest football club in Nigeria as those to be honored with Eminent Peace Ambassadors this year.
Amb. Nkweke said the reason for their nomination as Eminent Peace Ambassadors is to encourage them to continue to use their status as star athletes to pursue peace and unity in the country which has witnessed ethnic, religious and political divisions over the years.
IAWPA which recently hosted a successful International Day of Women in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital said the upcoming observance of the International Day of Sports For Development and Peace holding in Enugu city the capital of Enugu state will be a huge event aimed at emphasizing the importance of sports to peace.
He assured that members of the association especially other Eminent Peace Ambassadors from all over the country including the World Peace President Amb Per Stafsen from the Kingdom of Denmark and the International DirectorAmb Prof Chidi Ehidiero will be in the state to observe and add colour to the event.
