As the completion of a 25,000-seat stadium in Bayelsa State draws near, Governor Senator Douye Diri has instructed the Commissioner for Sports to make a bid for the state to host the National Sports Festival before he concludes his term in 2028.
Diri foresees that the state will rise to the top of the sports arena in Nigeria, attributing this to his administration’s focus on youth development and sports facilities.
The governor noted that Bayelsa has made remarkable strides in sports recently, finishing in second place during the last two editions of the National Sports Festival in Delta (2022) and Ogun (2024) and winning the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival in April this year.
Diri made these remarks on Friday, June 13, 2025, during the final match of the 2025 Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, known as the Prosperity Cup, held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
He stated, “On behalf of your government, our commitment to investing in youth through sports development will persist. That is the reason we are constructing a 25,000-capacity FIFA-standard stadium.
“We are incredibly ambitious, and the stadium will be finished in about two years. I have instructed the Commissioner for Sports to submit a bid for the National Sports Festival in 2028.
“We aspire to be the leading force in sports within Nigeria, and I am confident that we can promote football not only across the country but beyond. We are motivated by the joy football brings to our youth.”
The governor expressed his pleasure that the Prosperity Cup had incorporated female football, a development initiated in the previous edition, and further enhanced this year with increased prize money.
Diri emphasised that his administration’s Assured Prosperity Agenda in sports signifies that every youth should be included in the framework of opportunities.
He expressed gratitude to the tournament’s partners, which included the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, the Nigerian National League, and the Nigerian Women’s Football League.
Moreover, he commended sponsors like Premium Trust Bank, which awarded a new Coaster bus to Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2024/2025 female league.
Diri also praised the tournament’s Director-General, Mr. Ono Akpe, and the Central Organising Committee for their diligent efforts to ensure the event’s success.
Former deputy governor of Edo State and Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Hon. Phillip Shaibu, lauded Diri’s accomplishments in sports and thanked the state government for prioritising youth development.
Shaibu pointed out that sports serve not only as a recreational activity but also contribute to the GDP of states and the nation.
Also see: Father’s Day Surprise: Real Warri Pikin Reveals Baby Bump
Additionally, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, expressed his contentment with the evident progress in the competition, having attended the finals for the third time in a row.
Gusau thanked the governor for fulfilling his commitments to nurturing sporting talent, assuring him of the NFF’s continual support.
He encouraged other governors in Nigeria to follow the example set by their Bayelsa counterpart in engaging and empowering youths through football.
In his welcome address, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, referred to the Prosperity Cup as Nigeria’s leading youth football competition.
He stated that sports development in the state has significantly improved under Diri’s administration.
The Director-General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr. Ono Akpe, mentioned that 231 male teams and 20 female teams participated in this edition, and foreign football agents have shown interest in players identified during the tournament.
A highlight of the final, attended by a full-capacity crowd at the stadium, was the presentation of medals, trophies, and prizes to the victorious teams.
