Air Peace Hosts Emotional Night of Tribute to Honour Fallen Sports Legends
Air Peace, the largest airline in West and Central Africa, paid heartfelt tribute to five departed Nigerian sports icons, reinforcing its commitment to preserving national memory and honouring sporting excellence.
The event, tagged Night of Tribute and held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, celebrated the legacies of five revered Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors: Moses Effiong (MON), Charles Bassey (MON), Christian Chukwu (MFR), Obisia Nwakpa (Golden Gloves), and Peter Rufai (MON), fondly known as “Dodo Mayana.” It was an evening infused with emotion, nostalgia, and reverence for the men who once ignited the nation’s sporting spirit.
Curated by Nigerian football legend, Dr Segun Odegbami, MON – popularly known as “The Mathematical” – the tribute night brought together an assembly of family members, former teammates, dignitaries, and stakeholders in the Nigerian sports and corporate communities.
Among the prominent guests were the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu, and respected cleric Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, who delivered a poignant sermon interwoven with reflections from Nigeria’s sporting history.
The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide, was also in attendance alongside numerous stakeholders who joined in celebrating the lives and contributions of the fallen heroes. Soulful musical interludes by renowned vocalist Yinka Davies stirred the audience, adding a powerful emotional layer to the commemorations.
Delivering the keynote address, Air Peace Chairman, Dr Allen Onyema, spoke with passion and sincerity about the airline’s vision for honouring national icons.
He hailed the fallen legends as patriots who sacrificed their prime for the country at a time when personal reward was neither assured nor expected.
Onyema recounted emotional memories of personal encounters with Charles Bassey and Peter Rufai, expressing regret for unfulfilled gestures during their lifetimes.
He also revisited the plight of the 1976 Olympic team, who were pulled out of the Montreal Games in solidarity with the anti-apartheid struggle, only to return home to abandonment and silence. “These were men who played not for money, but for the green-white-green. They deserved better. They still do,” Onyema declared.
Calling for renewed national consciousness, the airline chief decried the neglect of Nigeria’s sports heroes and underscored the importance of recognising their legacy as a means to inspire patriotism among younger generations.
He lauded Dr Odegbami’s efforts in advocating for these sportsmen, describing him as “a man I will love forever” for his courage and commitment.
The Night of Tribute builds upon Air Peace’s established legacy of sports recognition. In 2022, the airline honoured the victorious 1980 AFCON team and the recalled 1976 Olympians with a grand celebration, including the unveiling of a permanent Wall of Fame at the NIIA and Eko Hotel.
They were also gifted lifetime, unlimited business-class tickets – part of the airline’s Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors initiative, a flagship programme that continues to earn praise for bridging aviation with national service.
For Air Peace, the event was more than a memorial – it was a call to action. As the evening drew to a close, the message resonated clearly: those who lifted the spirit of the nation through sports shall never be forgotten.
In celebrating these departed icons, Air Peace reaffirmed its place as more than a carrier of passengers – it is a steward of history, patriotism, and honour.
