Timothy Omobude 
One of the nominees for this year’s Sportsville Special Recognition Awards, Hajiya Zainab Saleh, whose name is synonymous with Karate in Nigeria, says her nomination is a big boost for the development of Karate in Nigeria.
For nine straight years, Hajiya Saleh has singlehandedly sponsored the Zainab International Female Open Karate Championships that is now a household name in Africa, and capping it up with Sportsville Special Recognition Award is the icing on the cake.
“Honestly, I am thrilled by this recognition coming from a credible organisation like Sportsville. I thought I was just doing my best to uplift the sport, sort of putting back into the society.
“I never knew people were taking interest in our little contributions to support young girls and women who want to make a future out of Karate.
“They need the support and for me, a keen practitioners of the sport, I feel I owe it a duty, with this recognition coming as a pleasant surprise, I will continue to do what I have always done and more for as long as I can, “the 4th Dan Black belter, World Judge, African Referee and member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria, added.
Hajiya Saleh and Mrs Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi are the only two women nominated for this year’s award. “I am really excited to know that what we are doing is attracting attention. I am honoured.”
Other awardees in the Special Recognition Category are the Presidents of the Handball Federation, Scrabble & Cricket, among others.
The award ceremony comes up on Friday, March 1st, 2024 at the Prestigious EKO CLUB in Surulere, Lagos.
