The International Cricket Council on Friday 19th July 2024 announced a service award to the immediate past President of Nigeria Cricket Federation, Professor Yahaya Adam Ukwenya.
The award conferment on the Professor of Gastrointestinal Surgery was confirmed by the General Manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, (NCF) Mr. Emeka Igwilo on Friday afternoon, from the ongoing ICC Annual Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The ICC’s Long Service Award is in “recognition of Prof. Ukwenya’s outstanding dedication and commitment to the development and growth of Cricket in Nigeria.”
The immediate past NCF boss told our correspondent that he was excited to be chosen from several nominees for the ICC award. He dedicates the award to the Nigerian cricket family under NCF.
“The award is a national credit. I am just part of a long list of people who have worked together for over 100 years.
I am like a leave on top of a big tree. So the credit must go to everybody. There is still a lot of work to be done and believe the game in the country is going in the right direction. Credit must go to all in NCF who have worked for the level we are now.”
The Kogi-born medical practitioner said the Long Service Award from ICC is due considering Nigeria’s pace of cricket development in the past 20 years.
Nigeria started enjoying quality cricket under Prof. Ukwenya as NCF President while his successor, Mr. Uyi Akpata has sustained the success of the game in a triple-fast record that attracted numerous ICC Awards.
Presently, the Nigerian Senior Cricket team is in Kenya for a bilateral series while a very formidable U19 Female Cricket Team is geared towards securing her first U19 World Cup ticket later in August 2024.
