Baptist Academy Celebrates Dr. Ademola Are at 170th Anniversary for His Impact on Nigerian Sports
Written by Alonge Akinlolu on 28 — 10
Newly re-elected President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are, has been inducted into the Order of Excellence by one of Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious educational institutions — Baptist Academy (BAOSA).
The milestone event, organized by the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council (NEC), and members of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA), celebrated distinguished alumni whose achievements and contributions continue to uphold the school’s enduring legacy of excellence.
Honourees, carefully selected after a rigorous review process, were formally recognized at a special Award Luncheon marking the 170th anniversary of the institution.
Speaking on his recognition, Dr. Are expressed deep gratitude to the organizers and fellow alumni, acknowledging the honor as both humbling and inspiring.
“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. Ademola Are once served as the school’s Sports Prefect before representing the University of Lagos at the NUGA Games and later donning Nigeria’s colors on the international stage.
As a visionary sports administrator, he played a pivotal role in establishing the National Youth Games and championed Grassroots Sports Development initiatives under the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, earning widespread acclaim for his innovation, leadership, and enduring contributions to Nigerian sports.
