Oshikoya leads legendary women athletes for AFFAN awards

• Published date: 20 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The President, Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN), Dr (Mrs) Toyin Aluko , has revealed that the celebration of great women athletes of the1960s and 1970s' today in Abuja is proper recognition of former women athletes of yesteryears that did the nation proud in their heyday.

She said the former women e athletes who selflessly served Nigeria in their prime have not been truly celebrated by the country , adding her association put it as mission statement to consider recognition of former women athletes for their meritorious service to sports development in the country.

'We are honouring the former female athletes of the 60s and 70s,' Aluko told NationSport.'We realized that they have since not been honoured as former national athletes. In the 60s and 70s we had just eight sports.

'The sports are athletics, table tennis, swimming, badminton, basketball, volleyball, Handball and hockey.

'We have added all the former seasoned athletes together both within and outside Nigeria and many of them that are in Nigeria will attend the programme.

'Mrs Modupe Oshikoya is in from the United States. The Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria deemed it fit to recognize this group of people who were unsung heroes during their time.

'We want to honour them and appreciate their selfless services at the time and they are all eager to be in Abuja to celebrate one and another.

'The occasion will give them opportunity to speak with their former teammates whom they had not spoken to for decades.'

The AFFAN President noted that the retired athletes are still available to contribute meaningfully to sports development in the country and shouldn't be seen as tired legs after they retire from the sports actively.

She continued: 'We want the young athletes to emulate them. Some of them are still available to contribute meaningfully to sports development in Nigeria.

'When the Association was formed some years ago, this was one of our vision and mission statement because we felt that he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches.'

The former secretary of Hockey Federation of Nigeria, said AFFAN was seeking collaborations with government for future events of the association even as she called on sporting Associations to tap from the experience of the retired athletes and engage them to serve as role models to current athletes offering their experience and services.

'We hope the government will collaborate with us because after this we are going to the former female...