CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Mrs. Yetunde Olopade, Wins Prestigious Newstap/SWAN 5-Star Award

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Mrs. Yetunde Olopade, has been honoured with the prestigious Newstap/SWAN 5-Star Award, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to sports marketing and sports event management in Nigeria.

Notably, Mrs. Olopade is the only female recipient among this year’s awardees, further underscoring her trailblazing role in a sector traditionally dominated by men.

Mrs. Olopade’s decoration comes as a reflection of the remarkable transformation she has brought to the sports landscape through her leadership at Nilayo Sports Management Limited, widely regarded today as the leading sports management company in Africa.

Under her stewardship, the company has successfully organized and managed some of Nigeria’s most prominent road races and sporting events. These include the globally acclaimed gold labelled Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, the fast-growing Premium Trust Bank Abuja City Half Marathon, and the newly introduced Yenagoa City International 10KM Race, among several other elite road races and sporting initiatives across the nation.

Through innovation, professionalism, and strategic partnerships, Mrs. Olopade has helped elevate Nigeria’s profile in international road running while simultaneously promoting sports tourism, youth participation, and economic activity within host cities.

Industry observers note that the Award does not come as a surprise, given the consistent excellence, organizational capacity, and global recognition that Nilayo Sports Management Limited has achieved under her leadership.

The Newstap/SWAN 5-Star Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that have made significant impact in the development and promotion of sports in Nigeria. Other awardees in the category are the Governor of Bayelsa State Duoye Diri, DG/CEO National Institute for Sports Comrade Phillip Shaibu and Proprietor of Yacateco Boxing Promotions Omolei Imadu.