Newly re-elected President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr Ademola Are, has been honoured by one of Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious educational institutions, Baptist Academy, for his remarkable contributions to sports development in the country.
Dr Are was inducted into the Order of Excellence during a special Award Luncheon marking the 170th anniversary of the institution. The event was organised by the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council (NEC), and members of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) to celebrate distinguished alumni whose achievements continue to uphold the school’s legacy of excellence.
Honourees were carefully selected after a rigorous review process, with Dr Are standing out for his decades-long commitment to youth and sports development in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Dr Are expressed heartfelt appreciation to the organisers and fellow alumni, describing the recognition as both humbling and motivating.
> “I can’t thank the committee enough for finding me worthy of this award. My classmates and members of BAOSA put in remarkable effort to make this possible. I thought retirement was the end, but this recognition has reignited my passion to do even more for Nigerian sports — my lifelong calling,” he said.
A proud alumnus and celebrated athlete, Dr Are once served as the school’s Sports Prefect before representing the University of Lagos at the NUGA Games and later donning Nigeria’s colours at international competitions.
Over the years, he has earned widespread respect as a visionary sports administrator. Among his numerous achievements, Dr Are is credited with initiating the National Youth Games and pioneering Grassroots Sports Development under the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, leaving an enduring mark on Nigeria’s sporting landscape.
Dr Are currently serves as the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, where he continues to promote inclusion, talent development, and international partnerships in rugby and other sporting disciplines.
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