BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
To celebrate fallen sports legends, Air Peace recently hosted a profoundly moving Night of Tribute in their honour.
Honoured as departed Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors were; Moses Effiong (MON), Charles Bassey (MON), Christian Chukwu (MFR), Obisia Nwakpa (Golden Gloves), and Peter Rufai (MON), fondly called Dodo Mayana.
The emotional ceremony took place on July 28, 2025, at the main auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
Curated by football icon Dr. Segun Odegbami, MON, popularly known as “The Mathematical,” the event brought together families, former teammates, dignitaries, and sports stakeholders in a heartfelt celebration of the legacies of these national heroes.
The evening was graced by the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Lloyd Ekweremadu; renowned clergyman Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, who delivered an evocative sermon and a nostalgic walk down Nigeria’s sporting history; and Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide.
Soulful performances by the legendary vocalist Yinka Davies further deepened the atmosphere of reverence and remembrance.
Air Peace Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, delivered a stirring tribute, reflecting the airline’s deep commitment to national pride and the preservation of history.
He described the late athletes as “patriots who gave everything to the nation at a time when there were no guarantees of reward, yet played for honour and country.”
Speaking with visible emotion, Onyema recalled personal encounters with the late Charles Bassey and Peter Rufai, expressing regret over opportunities lost to do more for them while alive.
He also highlighted the sacrifices of Nigeria’s 1976 Olympic team, who were recalled on the eve of the Montreal Games due to the nation’s anti-apartheid stance, only to return home “to neglect.”
Onyema lamented the absence of sustained national recognition for Nigeria’s sports icons, stressing that celebrating them is essential to inspiring true nationalism in young people.
He lauded Dr. Odegbami’s tireless advocacy for the legends, declaring, “He is a man I will love forever” for his selflessness and resilience.
This was not the airline’s first gesture of national honour. In 2022, Air Peace hosted a grand celebration for the 1980 AFCON-winning squad and the 1976 Olympic team, unveiling a permanent Wall of Fame at both the NIIA and the prestigious Eko Hotel.
The airline also granted the honourees lifetime unlimited business-class flights as part of its pioneering Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors initiative, now a defining legacy for the brand.
For Air Peace, the Night of Tribute was far more than a commemorative event; it was a powerful national statement.
By immortalising the heroes who once lifted the nation’s spirit, the airline reaffirmed its identity as more than a carrier of passengers — but as a custodian of patriotism, collective memory, and dignity.
