June 05, (THEWILL) – The organisers of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup, have congratulated Governor Douye Diri on the occasion of his birthday.
Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr Ono Akpe, in a congratulatory message, described Governor Diri as a humble, compassionate, selfless and exceptionally resourceful leader who continues to demonstrate an uncommon sense of duty in the service of Bayelsa State.
According to him, he is pleased with Governor Diri for his numerous landmarks and legacies in infrastructure, human capital development projects and economic empowerment of the people in all critical sectors, with which he has further repositioned Bayelsa State in the last five years of his very impactful administration.
The statement extolled the virtues and hard work of the governor, especially the peace and stability the state has enjoyed, as well as his patriotic and unrelenting service to his state and the nation.
It notes the governor’s developmental drive in the state, which has crystallised into the success of Bayelsa in the sports sector, with a continuous dominance of the state’s athletes in all the national events they have participated in recent years.
It explains that the state’s performance in the National Sports Festival, Niger Delta Sports Festival, National Para Games, Nestle Milo Basketball Championship, Bayelsa Queens dominance in Nigeria, and both state-owned teams triumphed in 2021 AITEO CUP in Benin City, Edo State is a testament of the governor’s passion for the development of sports.
He acknowledged that Bayelsa Queens recent triumph in the Nigeria Women Premier Football League NWFL and Precious Benjamin, a product of Prosperity Cup 2023 tournament’s, brilliant outing in the U:20 African Cup of Nation as well as other stars from the tournament has boosted the credibility of the competition and women’s football in the state.
The statement lauded the governor, Senator Douye Diri, for his tireless commitment to see that the “Prosperity Cup” remains the biggest grassroots football tournament in the nation, noting that the showpiece has had a positive impact on youths in the state, especially the increase in the prize money.
“Since your emergence as the governor of Bayelsa, you have remained irrevocably committed to your ‘ASSURED Mantra’, which centres largely on infrastructure, sports, agriculture, education, healthcare, political tolerance and justice for all irrespective of tribe, creed, party and religion.
“Your leadership prowess has continued to reverberate across the entire state and beyond, and we celebrate your unforgettable contributions to advancing our state, your commitment to humanity and how, at different times, various impactful approaches and activities on the people you lead have marked you out as a light that cannot be hidden.
“On behalf of the Central Organising Committee (COC) of the tournament, I congratulate you, Your Excellency, our father, our boss, as you clock a year older today. It is our prayer that God will grant you more years in good health to render more services to the people of Bayelsa State and the entire nation”, Akpe stated.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
