Japanese Emperor Hironomiya Naruhito has conferred his nation’s highest award “Order of the Rising Solar” on the president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel.
The Japanese ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, introduced the award to Engr Gumel on behalf of the Emperor Naruhito yesterday at his residence in Abuja, in recognition of Gumel’s contributions to selling friendship between Japan and Nigeria by means of sports activities.
Kazuyoshi praised Gumel’s sterling qualities in sports activities improvement, saying Emperor Naruhito appreciates the NOC president’s instrumentality in constructing relations with the Japanese Olympic Committee and his important roles within the promotion of bilateral cooperation between Republic of Japan and Nigeria through the years by means of the Olympic Video games.
“Obtain the Order of the Rising Solar, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, one of many highest orders awarded within the title of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, in recognition of your contributions to selling friendship between Japan and Nigeria by means of sports activities,” Kazuyoshi.
Gumel, one of many revered sports activities directors within the IOC, whereas accepting the award, expressed appreciation to the Japanese authorities for the honour and promised to be steadfast in utilizing Sports activities to advertise the picture of Nigeria positively.
“It’s certainly an honour and privilege for me to face right here earlier than you to obtain one of many worldwide highest orders awarded within the title of His Majesty, Emperor Naruhito of Japan. I’m humbled as we speak being honoured by the Authorities of Japan with essentially the most prestigious International Recipient of the 2022 Spring Imperial Decorations, which is the
Order of the Rising Solar, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, awarded within the title of His Majesty the Emperor.
“The Order of the Rising Solar”, which was established in 1875, is a Japanese order to be awarded to people who’ve made excellent contributions in selling worldwide relations and advancing Japanese tradition of their respective fields.
Consequently, I’m personally overwhelmed that my humble contributions within the space of selling friendship between Nigeria and Japan, by means of sports activities exchanges and the platform of the Olympic Video games is being acknowledged and acknowledged internationally as we speak,” Gumel stated.
The minister of youth and sports activities improvement, Sunday Dare, who was a particular visitor on the occasion, applauded Engr Gumel’s sincerity, professionalism and humility.
“Sports activities introduced out the expertise in Gumel. The truth is he is likely one of the revered sports activities directors on this nation that I respect. Am blissful the Japanese authorities took be aware of your contributions in constructing bounds between Nigeria and Japan.”
Engr Gumel turns into the fourth Nigerian to obtain such Order from Japan, following Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, former Minister of Finances and Nationwide Planning, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, former Minister of Well being, in addition to Prof Mohammed Gana Yisa, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Japan.
