Air Peace Honours Nigeria’s Sports Diplomacy Icons

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Air Peace, West and Central Africa’s largest airline, recently hosted an emotional Night of Tribute to honour sports diplomacy icons. The event was held on July 28, 2025, at the main auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

The tribute celebrated the enduring legacies of Moses Effiong (MON), Charles Bassey (MON), Christian Chukwu (MFR), Obisia Nwakpa (Golden Gloves), and Peter Rufai (MON), also known as “Dodo Mayana.” These figures were part of the airline’s celebrated Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors initiative.

Curated by legendary footballer Dr Segun Odegbami (MON), popularly called “The Mathematical,” the evening gathered family members, teammates, sports lovers, and corporate dignitaries. The event also drew participation from public officials such as Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu.

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo delivered a poignant sermon, blending spiritual reflection with stirring tales from Nigeria’s sporting history. Musical icon Yinka Davies performed live, adding emotional depth through soulful renditions that stirred many to tears.

Air Peace Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide, reiterated the airline’s commitment to national identity and legacy preservation. She noted that the tribute was not a one-off but part of an enduring culture of remembrance embedded in the airline’s values.

In his keynote address, Air Peace Chairman, Dr Allen Onyema, emphasised the sacrifices made by these sporting legends. “They played when no reward was guaranteed—only for honour and the green-white-green,” he said solemnly.

Onyema shared heartfelt memories, including personal interactions with the late Peter Rufai and Charles Bassey. He lamented how Rufai had reached out weeks before his death, seeking support for a mentorship programme that sadly never materialised.

The Chairman highlighted the 1976 Olympic team’s experience—pulled from the Montreal Games due to Nigeria’s anti-apartheid stance, only to return home unrecognised. “They sacrificed global glory for a national cause, yet we failed to uphold them,” he said, visibly emotional.

He condemned the neglect of national heroes and called for a cultural shift. “We must build a country where honour lives beyond applause—where young Nigerians learn pride through memory,” Onyema urged.

He also commended Dr Odegbami for his ceaseless advocacy, calling him “a man I will love forever” for his loyalty to fallen colleagues. “He has kept the flame of remembrance burning against all odds,” Onyema added.

In 2022, Air Peace had organised a historic event that included unveiling a Wall of Fame at the NIIA and Eko Hotel. The airline granted the 1980 AFCON winners and the 1976 Olympians lifetime unlimited business-class access—another milestone under its honours sports diplomacy icons programme.

This latest tribute, according to organisers, was not just a memorial but a declaration. “We fly passengers, yes—but we also carry the nation’s dignity, its history, and its soul,” said Mrs Olajide during closing remarks.

Air Peace’s approach to legacy goes beyond business and brand positioning. Through its Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors initiative, it has carved a path few corporates have walked—merging corporate success with national gratitude.

Stakeholders and attendees praised the airline’s unwavering commitment to honouring sporting heroes. They called on other organisations to emulate such nationalistic gestures, especially in times when history risks being forgotten.

As the lights dimmed and voices fell silent at the NIIA auditorium, one message stood firm: those who uplifted Nigeria on the global stage deserve remembrance, not silence.

By anchoring patriotism to action, Air Peace has once again proven that honouring our past is essential to building our future.