A three-time African senior champion in Long Jump, Ese Brume has won the 2019 Sports Woman of the Year.
She was also voted the Athletics Star of the Year at the Nigerian Sports Awards which held at Jasmine Hall, Eko Hotels and Suites on Friday night.
Recently, Brume was given a huge welcome by her school in Cyprus after she won bronze for Nigeria at the 2019 IAAF World Championships which gave Nigeria’s its only medal at the championships in Doha. Brume jumped a distance of 6.91m, her second-longest career jump to take home the bronze medal.
Other winners were Opeyori Anuoluwapo who won Sports man of the year while Odunayo Adekuoroye won the Wrestler of the Year Award. Dare Kuti received the 2019 Journalist of the Year Award while Victor Modo won the Photo Journalist award. Sam Ocheho was adjudged the Sports Administrator of the year as Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the D’Tigress, won Team of the Year. The basketball player award went to Evelyn Akhator and the Para Sports Person of the Year award went to Bose Omolayo
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare at the event indicated that the Ministry would collaborate with the Nigerian Sports Award to make the next edition bigger.
“Our gathering here tonight is a testimony to the fact that the Award has come to stay, proof that it is possible for us to get things right in Nigeria. It is reassuring to note that collaboration between the Private and Public sector in 2012 led to the birth of the Nigeria Sports Awards as we know it today.
“The over 35 million votes cast by enthusiasts in the various categories is a reminder that sports remain the greatest unifier among Nigerians. The votes are further proof that Nigerians can be mobilized to make meaningful contributions to sports development”, the Minister added.
He also gave the assurance that the ministry would play the role of a facilitator to provide an enabling environment for the Sports Industry to thrive.
