Nigeria Pitch Awards: Organizers Unveil Plans for 12th Edition

Organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have announced plans to stage the 12th edition of the prestigious football honours, marking another milestone in the celebration of excellence in Nigerian football.

The announcement was made during a Special Luncheon held on Monday at the BON Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, to appreciate the Awards’ partners and members of the College of Voters.

Among the dignitaries present were Dr. Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); Mr. Oluwadare Ojelabi, Director of Audit and Assurance at SIAO Partners; as well as leading sports editors, broadcasters, pundits, and columnists.

In his address, Mr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, expressed appreciation to partners and members of the College of Voters across the country for their steadfast commitment to the growth of the Awards.

“The journey to the 12th edition is a testament to the determination of all stakeholders to establish and sustain a credible reward platform for our footballers, administrators, and supporters,” he stated.

Mr. Philips also revealed plans to institute an Annual Sports Conference, to be held ahead of the Awards ceremony each year. According to him,

“Our vision is to make this gathering a unique opportunity to renew and refocus national attention on sports in Nigeria, while creating avenues for administrators and stakeholders to harness the immense opportunities within the sector.”

In a major announcement, Mr. Philips confirmed that the Striker of the Year Award will henceforth be renamed the “Rashidi Yekini Award”, in honour of the late Super Eagles legend. Rashidi Yekini remains Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorer, with 37 goals in 62 international appearances.

The organizers further disclosed that voting for the 12th edition of the Awards will commence on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Since its inception in 2013, the Nigeria Pitch Awards have consistently recognized and celebrated outstanding performances both on and off the pitch in Nigerian football.

Representing the NFF, Dr. Olajire commended the organizers for maintaining high standards and transparent procedures since the Awards began in Calabar in 2013.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Ojelabi reaffirmed SIAO Partners’ continued support as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, noting that the firm remains committed to upholding the integrity of the process. SIAO Partners have been responsible for collating and auditing all voting results since 2014.