Kogi State Government says it remains committed to fostering sportsmanship, promoting peace and unity as well as expanding opportunities for grassroots sports development across the 21 Local Government councils of the state.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Information Officer, Kogi State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, James Sani, and made available to The Graphic Sports.
According to the statement, the government assured that sporting activities in rural areas in Kogi State will receive necessary attention towards fostering unity, peace and development.
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Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Anyebe, stated this at the opening of the 2025 Ohinoyi of Ebira Football Competition held at Okene.
Hon. Anyebe said the current administration under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, was passionate about sports, and that all measures will be put in place towards enhancing sporting activities in the rural areas in the state.
He said through sports, the people are better unified and there by sharing common ideas towards unity, peace, understanding and development. Adding that the present administration has taken sports as one of it’s focal areas.
The Commissioner described the initiative of the organiser of the competition, the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Alhaji Muhammad Isah Anaje, as a positive development, saying his fatherly role of bringing people together shows his Commitment to Fostering unity, peace and stability among the people of the Area and the state in general.
Hon. Anyebe, commended the Ohinoyi, for carrying his people along in the scheme of things and assured him of Government’s support for the competition.
The Commissioner announced a N250,000 personal donation to the overall winner of the competition, N150,000 second place, and N100,000, to the third position respectively while calling on other influencial persons in the society to emulate the lauderdale initiative of the Ohinoyi.
In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, and Chairman of Ebira Traditional Council, HRM, Alhaji Muhammad Isah Anaje, said the competition aims to bring youths together to showcase their talents to both locally and internationally scouts.
In addition, the royal father said his target was to see youths of Ebira land and Kogi State at large engaging in international football. A dream he assured he would achieve.
He used the occasion to encourage the participants at the ongoing competition to work hard to come out with good results while announcing the Grand Prize of N1,000,000, 2nd prize N700,000 and 3rd, Prize N 500, 000 respectively.
The Ohinoyi then appreciated Governor Ododo, for prioritising sports development and expressed appreciation to the Commissioner of Sports for gracing the opening ceremony of the competition.
The Ohinoyi Cup 2025, with the Theme, “Kick for Peace, Play for unity” which commenced with Eganyi United and Adavi United has participants drawn from all the Local Government areas from the Central senatorial District.
