Ebi Egbe, Managing Director and CEO of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Company, and former Nigerian international Waidi Akanni have both extended their congratulations to George Aluo, Chairman of the Nigerian National League (NNL), on his nomination for the Imo Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) “Sports Administrator of the Year Award.” They described the recognition as a fitting tribute to Aluo’s transformative work in Nigerian sports.

Aluo will officially receive the prestigious award on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Rockview Hotel in Owerri. Imo SWAN selected him in recognition of his significant contributions to sports development, especially his impact on the NNL. Egbe, a leading voice in sports infrastructure, praised the association’s decision, emphasizing that Aluo’s leadership has brought new visibility to Nigeria’s second-tier football league.

“It’s a thing of joy that Aluo’s contributions towards sports development, particularly the transformation he has brought to the second-tier league, are being recognized by one of the industry’s most critical stakeholders,” Egbe said. He noted that since Aluo took over as chairman, he has redefined the NNL’s status, creating a competitive narrative that now rivals the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

Akanni also lauded the leadership of Imo SWAN for their choice, affirming that the award would encourage Aluo to pursue further reforms. He expressed optimism that this recognition would motivate Aluo to realize his ambitious vision for the NNL.

“I commend the Imo SWAN leadership for this excellent choice, which any right-thinking Nigerian would agree with. I hope this award inspires Aluo to continue working toward his goal of elevating the second-tier league to the standards of those in more developed countries,” Akanni stated.

Both Egbe and Akanni believe that Aluo’s leadership has already achieved significant progress within his relatively short tenure and are confident that the award will inspire even greater accomplishments for the future of the NNL.