Sports
‘Emulate Edo First Lady’Sports Minister Tasks Governors’ Wives On Sports Development
Joel Ajayi
Youth and Sports Development Minister Chief Sunday Dare has challenged the wives of States’ Chief Executives to emulate the First Lady of Edo State, Betsy Obaseki in the areas of youth and sports development.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the first edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament in Benin city, Edo State on Sunday, the Sports Minister urged other women in positions of influence and authority to use their good offices to promote sports and other good causes.
Twelve teams, eight of them in the Nigeria Women football top-flight league participated in the tournament, earning handsome cash prizes in the process.
Winners Bayelsa Queens earned the top prize of five million nairas, runners up Rivers United got three million naira. Third and fourth-placed Edo Queens and FC Robo got two and one million naira respectively while all the other teams that could not go beyond the group stage smiled home with half a million naira each.
Her Excellency, Betsy Obaseki also used the tournament to preach against human trafficking and other gender-based abuses and crimes.
“What the First Lady of Edo State has done is worthy of emulation,” Sports Minister Sunday Dare told the audience at the closing ceremony, “the impact, not just in sports but on the social lives of these young girls cannot be quantified.
“Helping to fight against social vices like human trafficking and other discriminatory offences against women using sports is something that all influential women in power should do,” He added.
Some of those present at the closing ceremony of the tournament were the First Ladies of Osun and Bayelsa States, the wife of the Deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Maryann Philip Shaibu and the first vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.
Sports
Football Fever Hits Abuja as Montage FM 99.7 Launches Maiden Community Tournament November 18
Joel Ajayi
In its determination to foster unity among communities across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), identify and promote raw football talent, encourage physical fitness and discipline, and tackle youth restiveness, Montage FM 99.7 Abuja has unveiled plans for the Maiden Edition of the Montage Community Football Tournament.
The highly anticipated grassroots competition, themed “Montage FM 99.7: Empowering Youth, Uniting Communities Through Football,” is set to kick off on November 18, 2025, with playoffs across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The tournament will feature 24 teams, with four teams representing each Area Council, competing for a cash prize of over ₦2 million and other valuable rewards.
However, grand finale scheduled for December 7, 2025, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where the top four teams will battle for first, second, and third place honors.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Cordinator of the Tournament Mr. Raphael Ekpang, described the tournament as a significant initiative aimed at using sports as a tool for unity, youth engagement, and talent discovery across the FCT.
According to him, I am honored to stand before you today to announce the upcoming Montage FCT Community Football Tournament a dynamic grassroots inter-community football competition that promises to unite communities and discover hidden talent across the six Area Councils in the FCT,” Ekpang said.
“This tournament is more than just football; it is a celebration of community spirit and youth empowerment. Our long-term goal is to expand beyond football to include other sports like basketball and athletics in future editions.”
Ekpang further noted that registration and awareness campaigns are currently underway across the six Area Councils, urging interested teams and individuals to participate.
“We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and partners who share our vision of promoting sports development and community engagement within the FCT. We also call on other organizations and individuals to join this noble cause,” he added.
The organizers emphasized that the Montage Community Football Tournament aligns with Montage FM 99.7’s mission to promote peace, unity, and positive engagement among youths while strengthening its brand presence as a youth-driven, community-focused platform.
They encouraged the public to follow updates and live coverage of the tournament through Montage FM 99.7 Abuja and its social media platforms
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