Prostar, NNL Honour February’s Best at Abuja Awards Gala

In a powerful show of support for grassroots football, Prostar Sports International has partnered with the Nigeria National League NNL to host the February 2025 Monthly Awards Ceremony. The event, taking place on Tuesday, April 15 at the West Point Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, will recognise excellence in Nigeria’s second tier football division.

Backed by SportLight Hub and the NNL, the initiative celebrates players, coaches, referees, and teams who delivered standout performances throughout February. The NNL’s Chief Operating Officer, Danlami Alanana, reaffirmed the league’s goal of promoting professionalism and rewarding consistent excellence.

February 2025 Award Winners:

• Best Goalkeeper: Oladeji Joshua (Crown FC)
• Most Valuable Player & Highest Goal Scorer: Abdullahi Umar (Kebbi United FC) – 4 goals, including the season’s first hat trick
• Best Coach: Emmanuel Duetsch (Solution FC)
• Best Behaved Team: Gateway United FC – zero cautions
• Goal of the Month: Babatunde Taofeek (Gateway United FC)
• Best Referee: Ogunfolaju Joshua (Osun Referee Council)

Winners will receive Prostar-branded footballs, jerseys, and a custom-designed trophy reminiscent of the global prestige of the Ballon d’Or tailored to reflect Nigerian football excellence.

Prostar CEO, Ambassador Paul Maduakor, stressed the importance of recognition in fuelling ambition. “These awards are not just recognition they are a motivation tool and a statement that hard work, discipline, and performance are seen and celebrated,” he said.

The initiative reaffirms the NNL’s position as a vital developmental league, bridging the gap between the Nationwide League One (NLO) and the elite NPFL, while helping shape the future of Nigerian football.

Editorial

In a football ecosystem often dominated by headlines from the NPFL or Super Eagles, the NNL remains the unsung hero. Yet it is here in Nigeria’s second-tier league that true stories of hunger, resilience, and transformation begin. That’s why Prostar Sports International’s continued backing of the NNL Monthly Awards is not just welcome it’s necessary.

Recognition matters. It fuels belief in systems. When a goalkeeper like Oladeji Joshua or a striker like Abdullahi Umar is celebrated with the same energy as global stars, it reinforces the message that Nigerian talent deserves to be seen, honoured, and elevated.

But these awards go beyond trophies. They symbolise structure. They echo a deeper movement aimed at institutionalising excellence in our local game. The professionalism on display in Abuja this week is proof that with the right support, the NNL can become more than a stepping stone it can be a standard.

Let’s hope that this culture of reward spreads across every level of Nigerian football. Because for every celebrated MVP today, there’s a future Super Eagle waiting for their spotlight.

Did You Know?

1. The NNL is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most competitive league, with promotion to the NPFL and relegation to NLO on the line.
2. Prostar Sports International also runs grassroots talent discovery programmes across several Nigerian states.
3. Abdullahi Umar is the first player this season to score a hat-trick in the NNL.
4. Gateway United FC’s zero cautions record in February highlights their reputation for disciplined play across seasons.
5. The NNL Monthly Awards are designed to mirror global football honours like the Ballon d’Or, but with a focus on Nigerian league excellence.