June 14, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed confidence that the state will soon become Nigeria’s leading force in sports, citing sustained investment in youth development and infrastructure by his administration.
Diri made the declaration on Friday at the final of the 2025 Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, known as the Prosperity Cup, held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
He said the state’s ambition to top Nigeria’s sporting ranks was on track, with the construction of a 25,000-capacity FIFA-standard stadium nearing completion and a bid to host the National Sports Festival in 2028 already in motion.
Diri stated: “On behalf of your government, we will continue to invest in youths through sports development. That is why we are building a 25,000-capacity stadium, which will be completed in about two years.
“I have directed the Commissioner for Sports to submit a bid for Bayelsa to host the National Sports Festival before I leave office in 2028. We want to be number one in sports in Nigeria.”
Bayelsa has made significant progress in recent years, placing second in the last two editions of the National Sports Festival in Delta (2022) and Ogun (2024), and emerging overall champions at the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival in April 2025.
Diri also celebrated the transformation of the Prosperity Cup, which has evolved to include a female category, and announced an increase in prize money to further encourage participation.
According to him, the Prosperity Administration’s youth-focused agenda ensures that “no young person is left behind in our sports revolution.”
The governor thanked the tournament’s partners, including the National Sports Commission, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nigerian National League, and Nigerian Women Football League.
He also lauded sponsors such as Premium Trust Bank, which donated a brand-new Coaster bus to Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2024/2025 NWFL season.
He commended the Director-General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, and the Central Organising Committee for their dedication to making the event a success.
Former Edo State deputy governor and current Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Hon. Phillip Shaibu, praised Diri’s investment in sports, noting that beyond recreation, sports contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of both states and the nation.
Also speaking at the event, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, who attended the Prosperity Cup final for the third consecutive time, applauded the steady growth of the tournament and Diri’s commitment to talent development.
“I want to thank Governor Diri for keeping his promises. We are proud of what he is doing in Bayelsa, and the NFF will continue to support these efforts. I also urge other governors across Nigeria to emulate this example in empowering youths through football,” Gusau said.
In his welcome remarks, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, described the Prosperity Cup as Nigeria’s premier grassroots football competition, adding that the state’s sports sector has undergone remarkable transformation under Diri’s leadership.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
