By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Chief of Staff to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Abba Yola has bagged the prestigious Thomas Sankara Leadership Prize for Pan – African Icon of Sports Renaissance Award in honour of his leadership ideology and high administrative prudence in the field of sports.
At the award ceremony which held in Abuja over the weekend, the President, Youth Partnership For Africa’s Development (YOUPAD), Hon. Coulibaly Hameed described him as a consumate Pan Africanist.
He further commended him for his well articulated policies which has positively transformed sports development in various capacities of his services to Nigeria, as well as his leadership with zero tolerance for corruption, nepotism and favoritism.
Past illustrious recipients of the prize, he stated, include President Umar Al-Bashir of Sudan, IGP Ibrahim Idris and Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, amongst other distinguished Africans.
In his acceptance speech, the award recipent and Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Abba Yola attributed the recognition to the doggedness and pragmatic approach of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare
“This achievement would not have been possible without the doggedness of my boss, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, with the full support of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, he said.
According to him, sports is a natural fit for him as he has been involved in different levels of its management and administration, from State to Federal capacities.
While commending the Youth Partnership for Africa’s Development for the honour, he said, “this award will no doubt encourage me to continue to do what I know best, contribute to the development of our youth through sports”.