NNL boss, George Aluo hails Paddysco Sports academy

Chairman of Nigeria National League [NNL], George Aluo has applauded Paddysco Sports Academy for promoting sports at grassroots level. 
Aluo, a journalist turned football administrator, stated this at the 2024 Paddysco Sports award night which was staged last weekend in Festac, Lagos. Reacting to the initiative, Aluo disclosed the academy remains a top notch which has helped inspire sports enthusiast across the country. He however urged sports administrator to imitate ideology of the academy whose 13th year anniversay  was done in grand style.
‘I’m here as an invited guest to facilitate with the club. It’s not an easy task setting up an academy of this magnitude and I’m sure more of this will help develop our sports from grassroots level.
‘ I’ll be using this medium to urge more sports enthusiast and tasked them to imitate the academy. I believe if we invest more in grassroots sports, Nigeria will reclaim its lost glory in the sector,’ he assured.
Reacting to this, Chief Executive Officer, Paddysco Sports Academy, Peter Azunnaya Okereke, disclosed reasons behind the award nite.
Speaking on the motive, Okereke explained that after more than a decade of the outfits’ existence, they decided to honor those who have stood by them through the years noting they deserve to be recognized.” We decided to organise this award because we took cognisance of those people who have actually contributed in taking us to where we’re today. We also realized that some of these people who operate at the grassroots level are not recognized outside their immediate environment.
” It’s of great concern to us that everyday you keep on hearing about one award or the other but these people are not recognized, meanwhile, they’re the ones doing the work in the communities and so we felt that this is the time to recognize them and tell them we appreciate what they’re doing to develop sports and humanity in the communities”, he explained.
Okereke who said the award will be an annual event, identified finance as one of the greatest challenges facing the academy just as he noted that his sports management outfit that operates from FESTAC Town, Lagos have so many sections such as; Paddysco Sports Academy, player management section and scouting section amongst others.
According to him, the academy made up of children of ages 3-16 years and 17 years for the senior team have succeeded in sending five players to Europe and two to Asia as well as participated in the U-20 trials held by Ladan Boso at the Maracana Stadium and expressed hope that something meaningful will come out of the trials.
Some of the award recipients are; Chuks Udeaja as the Man of the Year, Paul Maduakor, ( Sports Industry Supplier of the Year) , Theophilus Chinedu Nwobi ( Career Personality of the Year), Okenwa Chidi ( Recreational Sports Leader of the Year), Alhaji Dalti Umar Yusuf ( Grassroots Sports Developer of the Year) and Dr. Osondu Martins Ihegbu ( Leadership and Influencer Award) .
Others are; Mr and Mrs.George Mmadike ( Faithful Parent Partner Award) , Rotimi Atolagbe ( Ultimate Academy Parent), Damian Chibuike Nwafor ( Unwavering Parent) and Ingram Adiche Osigwe ( Media Practitioner of the year).
Also recognized are; Mrs. Ifeyinwa Lilian Ugochukwu ( Outstanding Referrals Award), Mr and Mrs Ofozoba ( Family Loyalty Award), Gabriel Oluwagbenga Aremu ( Positive Influence), Mr. Abuachi Williams (Loyal Parent Longevity) and Mrs. Ijeona Use ( Woman of the Year) amongst others.