NLO Confirms that Prosperity Cup Selected Side, Bayelsa Starlets Academy Will Participate in the U-19 Youth League
Ogbuku Reaffirms Commitment To Reforms In NDDC
Lagos State Baales Forum Congratulates Oba Akiolu on 23rd Anniversary on the Throne
The umbrella body of traditional rulers and chiefs in Lagos State, the Lagos State Baales Forum, has congratulated the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, on the occasion of his 23rd anniversary on the throne, describing him as a reservoir of wisdom, peace, and exemplary leadership.
The Forum stated that Oba Akiolu has remained a leading light in promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, and brotherliness in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos, while sustaining the cultural heritage and traditional values of the state.
In a congratulatory message issued on Saturday and signed by the Forum’s Chairman, High Chief Abu Jelili Ododo ( Baale of Ijeododo) the Oba- Elect of Ijeododo, the group said the foremost royal father, who also serves as Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, has continued to distinguish himself through grassroots engagement, consultations, conflict resolution, and community development initiatives across the state.
According to the Forum, the monarch has consistently demonstrated courage, wisdom, and patriotism in handling sensitive traditional and socio-political matters over the past two decades, thereby contributing significantly to the stability and growth of Lagos State.
The Baales commended Oba Akiolu for his fatherly role among traditional rulers and Baales across the state, noting that his leadership has strengthened the traditional institution and enhanced collaboration between communities and government authorities.
“Oba Akiolu has remained one of the strongest pillars of traditional leadership in Nigeria. In the last 23 years, he has used the throne to promote peace, preserve Yoruba cultural heritage, encourage youth development, and support policies that advance the progress of Lagos State,” the statement read.
The Forum further highlighted several areas where the monarch has made remarkable impact since ascending the throne in 2003. These include promoting communal harmony among diverse ethnic groups residing in Lagos, mediating in communal disputes, supporting security initiatives, and advocating stronger respect for traditional institutions.
The Baales also praised the monarch for his consistent advocacy for environmental sanitation, education, grassroots development, and cultural renaissance, particularly through festivals and activities aimed at preserving the identity and history of Lagos.
They noted that under Oba Akiolu’s reign, the palace of the Oba of Lagos has continued to serve as a rallying point for dialogue, reconciliation, and unity among political leaders, business stakeholders, religious groups, and residents of the state.
The Forum further acknowledged the monarch’s role in supporting successive administrations in Lagos through wise counsel and strategic interventions on matters affecting governance, security, and social development.
“His reign has brought dignity, stability, and renewed relevance to the traditional institution in Lagos. Oba Akiolu has continued to inspire younger traditional rulers with his wisdom, discipline, courage, and deep commitment to the development of our communities,” the statement added.
The Baales prayed for continued good health, strength, wisdom, and long life for the revered monarch as he continues to serve the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large.
They reaffirmed their loyalty and support to the Oba, pledging continued cooperation with the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs in promoting peace, unity, and grassroots development across the state.
Prosperity Cup: Winners Receives Prize Money
… As Premium Trust Bank Pledges More Support for Sports Development
Winners of season eight of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup, have received cheques after their triumph in the competition.
The presentation ceremony was done immediately after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa with officials of Premium Trust Bank, the tournament’s lead sponsors, present at the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who stressed the need for grassroots sports development, said there cannot be any progress in sports without the input of grassroots, maintaining that the Prosperity Cup has brought to the fore, the importance of grassroots football.
Senator Diri, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, urged coaches in the State to embark on grassroots talents hunt programmes in order to discover budden talents that would replace aging athletes across different sports, describing grassroots as the bedrock of sports in every society.
According to him, plans are underway for Bayelsa to host the second edition of the State sports festival, stating that local government area sports festival is aimed at spotting hidden talents in the rural areas.
While commending the organizers of the Prosperity Cup for their steadfastness and commitment, the state helmsman appreciated Premium Trust Bank for its premium investment in the development of sports in the State.
Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, who was represented by the Regional Head of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Danjuma Omeje, noted that this year’s edition of the tournament was special to the financial institution because it coincides with the bank’s fourth year anniversary.
He hinted that during the anniversary the bank made about one hundred and seventy seven billion Naira Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the first time in the history of any financial institution in the country.
Dr. Omeje assured Bayelsans that the bank will continue to give maximum attention to the development of sports in the State, stating that the institution is desirous to give the youths better opportunities through sports.

A visibly elated Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, earlier in an address of welcome, informed the Bayelsa State Government that five players from the just-concluded edition have been invited by the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Austine Eguavoen, to join the U-20 National football team.
He explained that the players would leave Yenagoa for Abuja on Sunday 24th May, 2026, adding that four of the players will be featured in the U-20 team while one will play in the U-23 National team.
Mr Akpe further explained that the Nigeria Nationwide League One, NLO has given the Prosperity Cup champions and the Prosperity Cup selected team a slot in the NLO to participate in the tournament slated to commence next month, with Yenagoa being picked as a centre.
He lauded the sponsors, Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance Nig. Ltd, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigeria Customs Service, Binad Table Water, Agco Engineering and the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue for the unwavering support to the tournament.
Also speaking at the occasion, the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Fred Agbedi, urged multinational oil companies operating in the State to emulate Premium Trust Bank by supporting the grassroots football tournament.
In separate interviews, Okoroma United Manager, Jenkins Okardi and Ezougha Queens Coach, Akren Beauty, applauded Premium Trust Bank for investing in grassroots football.
Champions Okoroma United got ₦40,000,000, second placed Akinima/Biogbo went home with ₦13,000,000, Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry, MLDM FC who finished third received ₦7,000,000 while 4th placed Krosaders FC smiled home with the sum of ₦2,000,000.
Women’s champions, Active Ladies were rewarded with the sum of ₦10,000,000 for their effort, second position received ₦5,000,000, third placed team got ₦2,000,000 while the 4th placed team got ₦1,000,000, along with other consolation prizes.
Prosperity Cup Organizers Begin Screening for Bayelsa Starlet Academy.
…As Participants Commend Organizers for Academy Initiative
The process of establishing the FC Barcelona-affiliated Bayelsa Starlet Academy, has begun in earnest with the commencement of an Under-19 Tournament/Screening programme, in Yenagoa.
A total of 70 players in the U-15 and U-19 categories are participating in the three-day exercise.
It will be recalled that last week, during the grand finale of the 2026 edition of Prosperity Cup, the Bayelsa State Government and FC Barcelona, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a football academy in the state with the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, signing on behalf of the state government while the Technical Director, Barca Academy (Africa Project), Mr Bernat Villa Gorriz signed on behalf of the Spanish football giants.
The screening exercise, which will run from Wednesday, 13th through Friday, 16th of May, 2026 and held at the Samson Siasia Stadium, was supervised by former international, Edema Fuludu and other coaches.
The essence of the screening basically is to assemble players and groom them for the Bayelsa Starlets Academy.
One of the coaches handling the exercise, Dimie Ineididie, said he was impressed with the turn out of players for the exercise, expressing confidence that quality players would be assembled at the end of the programme.
He noted that the exercise reflects the sincerity and the commitment of the organizers to establishing the Bayelsa Starlet Academy, maintaining that the academy would give more youths in the State the avenue to earn a living through football.
According to him, he has spotted raw talents that are marketable and desirous of being in the academy, pointing out that more players would join the exercise on Thursday 14th May, 2026.
Some of the participants, Desmond Godwin, Tavie Abraham and David Abraham, said the exercise would provide them the opportunity to showcase their potential, describing the exercise as a huge opportunity to their careers.
The programme continues on Thursday, 14th May, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium immediately after the weekly Prosperity Walk.
Fuludu Hails Re-jigging of Bayelsa Starlets Academy
… As Screening Exercise Enters Day Three
Former Nigeria international, Edema Fuludu has hailed the foresight of the Bayelsa State Government in upgrading and expanding the Bayelsa Starlets Academy in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Bayelsa State Government and FC Barcelona.
Fuludu made this known during the Under-15 and Under-19 screening exercise organised to fortify the Starlets Academy with a view to affiliating it to FC Barcelona. The MoU was signed last week during the final of the season eight of the Prosperity Cup.
He noted that the only way for grassroots players to excel was to create a platform for them to get better, maintaining that the establishment of the academy would be a breeding ground for the state-owned team, Bayelsa United and other cadet national teams in the country.
Fuludu, who described grassroots as the foundation of football in any society, said the Bayelsa Starlets Academy would reduce restiveness among youths in the State because the youths would be positively engaged with the academy.
He expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the quality of players that showed up on day two of the exercise, pointing out that his team of coaches have identified an avalanche of talents during the exercise.
According to him, “over a hundred players took part in day two of the screening compared to day one that had seventy players comprising both U-15 and U-19 players”.
He explained that 39 players have been selected among the 100 players that came for the exercise, adding that one of the criteria for trimming down the number of players was age, because some of the players were above the age limit for the programme.
He further explained that the exercise is still open, that more players would join the exercise tomorrow, maintaining that at the end of the programme, 40 players would be selected, pointing out that those picked on day two could still be dropped if they fall short of the standard.
The exercise enters day three on Friday, 15th May, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium with proceedings commencing at 10.00a.m.
Bayelsa Starlets Academy Concludes Screening Exercise
… As Permanent Secretary Commends Coaches for Professionalism
After three days of rigorous screening exercise to select players that will feature in the upgraded and expanded FC Barcelona-affiliated Bayelsa Starlets Academy, 36 outstanding players within the age bracket of U-15 and U-19 have been selected.
The exercise, which was coordinated by ex-international Edema Fuludu and his team of assistants, had over 160 players in attendance who are basically products from the just-concluded season 8 of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup.
The programme is coming a week after the spanish football giants, FC Barcelona and the Bayelsa State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU signaling the commencement of the FC Barcelona-affiliated academy in the State.
Speaking at the end of day three of the exercise, an elated Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Mr Pere Erefe, said he was pleased with the intensity of the exercise, maintaining that the academy would help curb youth restiveness in the State, to a large extent.
While noting that the signing of the MoU last week has opened another chapter for Bayelsa sports, Efeke, who described the academy set-up as a laudable initiative, said the Prosperity administration is deliberate about grassroots sports development,
Mr. Erefe commended the coaches for their thoroughness and professionalism in ensuring that the best legs are selected for the academy, expressing confidence that the players will give their very best when the academy starts in earnest.
While appreciating the Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr. Ono Akpe and his team for their foresight, he commended the governor, Senator Douye Diri, the deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali for giving sports premium attention.
Two participants, Joel Uduak and Ayanka Joshua expressed gratitude to the organisers of the Prosperity Cup for the life-changing initiative, stressing that they are prepared for the task ahead.
In the meantime, the selected team will on Saturday, 16th of May, 2026, engage Kingdom Football Academy in a friendly match at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa at 11.00am, before embarking on camping.
Government Secondary School Afikpo Old Boys’ Association, Paul Erinne Foundation Flag Off Multi-million Naira Assembly Hall Renaissance at GSS Afikpo
The Government Secondary School Afikpo Old Boys’ Association (GSSAOBA), in proud partnership with the Paul Erinne Foundation, will tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, flag off the comprehensive remodeling of the historic Assembly Hall of Government Secondary School (GSS), Afikpo, Ebonyi State.
The flag-off ceremony, scheduled to take place at the school premises in Afikpo, signals the formal commencement of what promises to be one of the most significant alumni-driven educational infrastructure projects in South-East Nigeria — a transformational initiative valued at over N250 million.
The Assembly Hall Remodeling Project forms the centrepiece of the GSSAOBA Legacy Project and will transform the institution’s iconic hall into a state-of-the-art facility befitting its storied heritage. Upon completion, the hall will feature contemporary fittings and furnishings, a fully integrated multimedia infrastructure, a professional-grade sound system, and a solar-powered energy installation — positioning it as a modern hub for academic activities, civic engagement, and intellectual discourse.
“This project is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Dr. Bobbie Iwe, National President of the Government Secondary School Afikpo Old Boys’ Association. “It is a statement of gratitude to an institution that shaped generations of leaders, and a commitment to ensuring that future students inherit a facility worthy of their potential.”
The project is wholly funded by distinguished alumnus Dr. Sir Paul Erinne, through his Paul Erinne Foundation — an organisation with a consistent track record of impactful interventions in education and community development across Nigeria.
Commenting on his motivation, Dr. Sir Paul Erinne said the donation reflects a deeply personal obligation to the school that laid the foundation for his personal and professional achievements. “GSS Afikpo gave me and countless others the tools to succeed. It is only right that we give back in a manner that endures for generations to come.”
Government Secondary School, Afikpo, founded during the colonial era, holds a distinguished place in Nigeria’s educational history. The school has produced notable personalities across diverse fields, including law, public relations, medicine, academia, engineering, and business — cementing its reputation as one of Nigeria’s premier secondary institutions.
The Assembly Hall Renaissance is the first in a series of planned infrastructure upgrades under the GSSAOBA Legacy Project, which aims to preserve the school’s proud heritage while modernising its facilities to meet 21st-century standards.
Saturday’s flag-off ceremony is expected to draw a distinguished audience, including alumni from across Nigeria and the diaspora, traditional rulers, senior government officials, education sector stakeholders, and members of the wider Afikpo community.
About GSSAOBA The Government Secondary School Afikpo Old Boys’ Association (GSSAOBA) is the alumni body of Government Secondary School, Afikpo, Ebonyi State. The Association is committed to advancing the school’s academic excellence, infrastructure, and heritage through sustained alumni engagement and investment.
About the Paul Erinne Foundation The Paul Erinne Foundation is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to education, community development, and human capital investment in Nigeria, founded by Dr. Sir Paul Erinne.
Abia Youth Group Hails Engr. Akagburonye on Donation of Computers to Polytechnic Students
The leadership of Obingwa Youth Council in Abia State has commended the founder of Believers of the Gospel Welfare Foundation, Engr. Obioma Success Akagburonye over the donation of computers and other ICT equipment to members of Federation of Ngwa Students.
The youth body said the gesture is a demonstration of love and commitment to assist young people to grow and become active contributors in the quest to advance inclusive development, which Engr. Akagburonye has always stood for.
In a statement in Aba on Thursday, the President of Obingwa Youth Council, Comrade Chinedu Anaba highlighted that the intervention by Engr. Akagburonye would significantly support students in improving their digital literacy, academic research, and practical ICT skills needed to compete in the modern knowledge-driven economy.
Anaba noted that the donation came at a critical time when many students in tertiary institutions are struggling with inadequate access to technological tools and learning facilities. He described the initiative as a major boost to educational development and youth empowerment in Abia State.
According to him, Engr. Akagburonye has once again demonstrated that genuine leadership and philanthropy transcend ethnic and state boundaries, stressing that despite being an indigene of Imo State, he chose to identify with and support students and youths in Abia State through impactful educational support.
“His action clearly shows that nation-building and youth development should not be restricted by geographical origin. Though he is from Imo State, Engr. Akagburonye has continued to extend love, support, and opportunities to the people of Abia, especially the younger generation,” Anaba stated.
The youth leader further praised the Chairman of Praco International Limited for consistently investing in humanity through educational support programmes, youth mentorship, and community development initiatives across different parts of the South-East.
He urged other well-meaning Nigerians, political leaders, and private sector stakeholders to emulate the example of Engr. Akagburonye by investing in projects and programmes that directly impact young people and help prepare them for future opportunities.
Anaba assured that the beneficiaries would make judicious use of the computers and ICT equipment, adding that the donation would contribute immensely toward strengthening technological awareness and innovation among students in the area.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of Obingwa Youth Council to continue supporting initiatives aimed at promoting education, entrepreneurship, peace, and sustainable development within the community and beyond.
NDDC Unveils Fire Truck For Emergency Response In Rivers
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has handed over a fire truck to its Department of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), as part of its efforts to strengthen workplace safety and emergency preparedness within the Commission and its environs.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated that safety remained a shared responsibility and emphasised the importance of equipping the HSE Department with essential firefighting tools to support accident prevention and emergency response initiatives.
Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Director, Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, stated: “This fire truck was bought to ensure the safety of the Commission and its environs, to help to fight fire in the case of any outbreak in and within the neighbourhood. We will assist in fighting fire as much as possible, just like Shell and Julius Berger.”
He stated that safety remained a shared responsibility and emphasised the importance of equipping the HSE Department with essential firefighting tools to support accident prevention and emergency response initiatives.
He further said that fire trucks would be provided to all NDDC State offices in the region to mitigate hazards and strengthen emergency response capacity.
In her remarks, the Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Mrs Chinyere Umeh, expressed appreciation to the NDDC Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for his commitment to staff welfare and operational safety. She noted that the equipment and fire truck would greatly enhance the department’s capacity to respond promptly to emergencies, promote effective safety practices, and improve environmental protection measures within the Commission.
Umeh expressed appreciation to the Management for the timely intervention and reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to ensuring compliance with safety standards and promoting safety awareness across the Commission.

