The importance of Sports to humanity was yet again reiterated; its value to community building and personal aspiration was the fulcrum of the conversation at this year’s Rotary Sports Festival (ROFEST’26) Award Nite in Lagos.
Keynote speaker at the ROFEST’26, Chairman Brila Media Dr. Larry Izamoje shared the inspirational stories of Sports’ biggest personalities and achievers, who have shaped their respective disciplines, but even more so have impacted the world in their own little ways.
Dr. Larry Izamoje presented a speech on ‘SPORTS AS A SERVICE TO HUMANITY’, the pioneer and founder of Brila FM, Africa’s first Sports Radio Station, guided the audience through a hair-raising journey of football icons to a boxing legend and with captivating anecdotes from socio-political figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
Excerpt of the speech:
In prodding people everywhere to break what limits them in service to humanity and to use sports as a reach out vehicle, Nelson Mandela one of the greatest men to have come out of Africa declared in 2000, at the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards:
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”
Brila Media Chairman, Dr. Larry Izamoje at the ROSFEST’26 awards nite : “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”
Photo: Flanking Dr. Larry Izamoje are, Rotary International President,… pic.twitter.com/2e0l0epR50
— Brila Media (@Brilafm889) February 15, 2026
Among the dignitaries present during the ROFEST’26 which held on Saturday, 14th February, was Rotary International President, Francesco Aresso.
The 2026 was the third edition of the Rotary Sports Festival.
