Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has hinted that the state would bid to host the National Sports Festival at the completion of the state’s 25,000 capacity stadium before he leaves office in 2028.
Gov. Diri,vwho dropped the hint at the closing ceremony of the state 2025 governor’s football tournament, christened Prosperity Cup at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, on Friday, said he has directed the commissioner of sports to pursue the cause of the hosting and ensure it succeeds.
The governor predicted that the state will soon become the number one in sports in Nigeria, following his administration’s investment in youth development and sports infrastructure.
Bayelsa State emerged second in the last two editions of the National Sports Festival in Delta (2022) and Ogun (2024) and was champion at the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival in April this year at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The governor said: “On behalf of your government, we will continue to invest in youths via sports development. That is why we are building a 25,000-capacity FIFA-standard stadium.
“We are very ambitious and the stadium will be completed in about two years. I have directed the Commissioner for Sports to bid for the National Sports Festival in 2028.
“We want to be number one in sports in Nigeria and I believe we can export football to the rest of the country and beyond. We are encouraged that football keeps our youths happy.“
Gov. Diri expressed delight that the Prosperity Cup had taken a new dimension with female football, which began in the last edition, and upgraded this year with the prize money also raised.
He stressed that his administration’s Assured Prosperity Agenda in sports means no youth should be left out in the scheme of things.
The governor appreciated the tournament’s partners, which included the National Sports Commission, Nigeria Football Federation, Nigerian National League and the Nigerian Women Football League.
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He equally acknowledged the sponsors, including Premium Trust Bank, which donated a brand new Toyota Coaster bus to Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2024/2025 female league.
Gov. Diri praised the tournament’s Director-General, Mr. Ono Akpe, and the central organising committee for working hard to ensure its success.
Former Deputy Governor of Edo State and Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Phillip Shaibu, commended Gov. Diri’s achievements in sports and thanked the state government for investing in youth development.
Shaibu noted that sports was not only a social activity but also adds to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of states and the country.
Also, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, expressed satisfaction with the noticeable improvement in the competition, having witnessed the third consecutive finals.
Gusau thanked the governor for keeping to his promises to develop sporting talents, assuring that the NFF will continue to support him.
He urged other governors in Nigeria to emulate their Bayelsa counterpart in youth engagement and empowerment through football.
In his welcome address, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, described the Prosperity Cup as Nigeria’s premier youth football competition.
He said sports development in the state has witnessed a lot of improvement under the Gov. Diri administration.
Highpoint of the final, which was witnessed by a capacity crowd at the stadium, was the presentation of medals, trophies and cheques to winners.
In the male category, Eternal Grace Ministries of Yenagoa, which defeated Advanced Dreams Academy, also of Yenagoa, 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless regulation time, got N10 million prize money, while their opponents got N5 million.
Afini Ladies that won the female category also received N5 million, while the runners up, Ezougha Football Academy received N2.5 million.
NWFL Chairperson, Nkechi Obi, also presented the league trophy to the champions, Bayelsa Queens.
