The Chairman, Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Barr. Paul Edeh has been honoured with the Africa Sports and Tourism Awards (ASTA) "mentor of the year' award, for his contribution to sports development in Nigeria.

At a well attended event held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Edeh and 15 other prominent Nigerians were honoured for their immense contribution to the development of sports and tourism in Africa.

The 2024 inaugural ASTA had as its theme “Sports as a Catalyst for Accelerated Tourism Development in Africa,” .

Edeh,  a quintessential sports administrator and philanthropist, said he considered the award a rare privilege among the crème de la crème of the sports and tourism industry in Nigeria.

"To be recognised among the very best in the country, for me I count it a very rare privilege that God has given me.

"I know that among all the recipients, am probably the youngest and it goes to say that this is indeed an award I will never toy with, because it is something every normal human being looks forward to," he said.

The elated BSFA boss said that the award will further spur him to the development of sports, especially grassroots football in Nigeria.

“For me it’s a rare privilege to experience this kind of award.

“I will continue to see how I can promote sports, particularly the game of football in all spheres.

” Of course as the chairman of BSFA, the award will spur me to continue to grow the game at the grassroots and support women in sports,” he said.

Edeh said that as part of plans to transform football in Benue state, the inaugural BSFA sports awards will be coming up in June, to mark his one year in office as BSFA chairman.

He assured that under his leadership, football administration and development in Benue will be taken to the next level in line with international best practices.

The sports administrator also stressed on the need to give more support to the development of women football and women in sports generally.

He thanked the organisers of the Awards while advocating for more investment in sports to fast track the socio-economic development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Other award recipients in the well attended event include Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of Interior, Ibrahim Gusau, NFF President, Mrs Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Governor Babaji Sanwo-Olu, among others.
 
Amb. Peace Onuiri, Organiser of the event said  the awards was organised to honour  individuals, organisations, and initiatives that have demonstrated outstanding contributions to leveraging sports to propel tourism development.
 
The event was  graced by  Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh sports and tourism stakeholders, diplomats,  and captains of industries.