Gov Diri Receives Tournament Official Jersey
The Director-General of the Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament aka Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe has formally presented Governor Diri with his official jersey of the Prosperity Cup. The presentation was made at the governor’s home town Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Thursday, two days after the burial of Pa Abraham Joseph Michael Diri, the father of Governor Douye Diri.
Governor Diri in his response said he was elated with the presentation and preparations for the tournament made so far and thanked the organizers for their efforts, urging them to make this year’s tournament an outstanding showpiece.
He affirmed that the cardinal objective of his administration is the pursuit of youth development through initiatives and sporting tournaments like the Prosperity Cup that empower and create jobs as launch pads for youths.
In another development the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV and Ibenanaowie of Ekpetiama Kingdom has endorsed the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament and called on communities in the State to get involved in the fifth edition of the Prosperity Cup.
King Dakolo made the endorsement when a combined team of the LOC and Media/Publicity Committee of the Prosperity Cup led by the Director-General, Ono Akpe paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Yenagoa.
The monarch noted that he was happy to receive the team in his office, stating that the gesture was indicative of the respect accorded traditional institutions in the Ijaw nation.
He noted that the traditional institutions will collaborate with the organizers of the showpiece to give the state a successful tournament, pointing out that he was elated to hear that the tournament has produced players who ply their trade in clubs here in Nigeria and in Europe.
While commending the government and the organizers for sustaining the tournament all these years the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, urged Ijaw youths who are into sports to always promote the Ijaw culture wherever they find themselves in the world and prayed the organizers of the Prosperity Cup to inculcate these virtues in the players during the period of the tournament.
King Dakolo, called on corporation organizations, financial institutions, multinational oil companies, and intervention agencies to invest in sports development, describing sports as an agent of prosperity and unity.
While giving his blessings to the tournament, the monarch equally pledged to reach out to other monarchs in the state to encourage their communities participate in the tournament while driving home the spirit of love, unity and peace.
He also commended the Prosperity Government for the peace initiatives carried out since its inception and believes the Prosperity Cup will add value to the peace the state is enjoying today.
Earlier, Director-General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr Ono Akpe, thanked the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council for giving his team audience despite his busy schedule.
Mr Ono Akpe pointed out that the visit had become imperative due to the respect and value his team has for traditional institutions, saying that society is incomplete without traditional institutions.
He explained that the Prosperity Cup has helped to engage the youths in positive and lasting ways with the state usually recording zero crime in various local government areas during the tournament.
As the fifth edition is slated to kick off at the various local government areas later this month, Mr. Akpe noted that maintaining the standard of the most prestigious and largest grassroots football tournament in Nigeria would be the organizers utmost priority.
He lauded the Prosperity administration for giving premium attention to youth and sports development in the state, stressing that Governor Diri’s love for sports has given Bayelsa State international recognition.
