Tobi Oyewole’s goal in the 14 minute of encounter sealed victory for Akwa Ibom.

Imo delivered a disciplined performance to beat Bauchi 1-0. Ebode Richard scored after an unpardonable gaffe by goalkeeper Iliya Shehu.

A goal in the closing periods of the tie from Blessed Okon was all it took to separate the two sides as FCT won 1-0 against Jigawa.

Midfielder Soso Sunday netted from the penalty spot in the 17th minute against Borno.

Kebbi stuck to their game plan all the way and comfortably frustrated Borno to win 1-0.

Goals from Aondover Agandi and Ejieh Paul was the tonic Adamawa needed destroy Rivers 2-0.

The #Ote4Wealth Football Tournament holding at the Water FC Stadium, Apo Abuja is in honour of Diamond Jubilee celebration of Nigeria’s foremost philanthropist and Business mogul, Femi Otedola Femi Otedola who clocked 60 on November 4.

Day 4 Results:
Bauchi 0-1 Imo
Benue 0-1 Akwa Ibom
FCT 1-0 Jigawa
Kebbi 1-0 Borno
Abia 1-0 Bayelsa
Adamawa 2-0 Rivers

The Rivers State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has hailed the appointment of accomplished sports administrator Christopher Green Esq. as the new Commissioner for Sports in the state.

Green and four others were on Saturday sworn in as Commissioners by Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike, CON, POS Africa, with the former Executive board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) assigned to take charge of the Sports Ministry.

Green’s appointment comes barely two weeks after the state owned club Rivers United, under his saddle, confirmed their status as champions of Nigeria’s elite league division, a feat achieved in a record-breaking fashion.

“The appointment of Chris Green as the new Commissioner for Sports in Rivers State is not totally unexpected because it has now gone beyond any reasonable doubt that he possesses the midas touch to make things happen in Sports administration,” SWAN Rivers chairman Sarah David said on Saturday.

“This is a testament to the popular saying that the reward for hardwork is more work. Green’s reputation goes before him everywhere he goes and the conquest of the NPFL by Rivers United shows that he has not lost a single bit of his magic wand.

“SWAN Rivers as an association is delighted with this development and we believe that Green will bring his technical nous into good use while in charge of the Ministry because there are a lot of grounds to cover within the next one year.

“We will also do our best as members of the Fourth Estate of the realm to work harmoniously with him to make his time as the Commissioner as successful as it can be for the state,” Ms David added.

Most imperative on Green’s desk as the Ministry’s helmsman is the 2022 National Sports Festival to be hosted by Delta state in November and also ensuring that Rivers United makes an appreciable impact while representing Nigeria in continental competitions starting in August.

Fisayo Dairo
Assistant Secretary

The statement issued on Saturday and signed by Rivers United’s General Manager, Dr. Okey Kpaluku, it reads “On behalf of the management, technical crew, players, backroom staff and supporters of Rivers United, I congratulate a gentleman of intrepidity and great intelligence, an astute sports administrator and a development expert, Sir Barrister Chris Green, on the occasion of your appointment as Commissioner for Sports, Rivers State. 

This appointment is coming at a critical time in the history of our state and nation and therefore underscores the importance to the good governance and development of our state.

With your capacity and achievements gathered over the years, I have no doubt in mind that you will bring your wealth of experience garnered to bear on your new assignment.

On this auspicious occasion,  I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life which has been marked by outstanding accomplishments and enduring fulfillments.

May our good Lord continue to chart your path and bless you with more wisdom in your resolve to bequeath milestones in the sports sector in Rivers State and Nigeria in general. 

Signed 

Sir Chief Dr Okey Kpalukwu (JP)

General Manager

Rivers United Football Club.

9th July, 2022

Still, in the spirit of conversing for a youthful and purposeful leadership come 2023 General Election, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State Chapter, has interfaced with Rivers State APC youth party leader and its NYCN leadership.

In a round table discussion held in River State over the weekend, the Chairman of Kogi NYCN, Amb. Usman Ogohi, appreciated the audience granted to his team while lauding the leadership of youth stakeholders in the state.

According to him, NYCN is a non-partisan group which is poised on the need of ensuring adequate and capable leadership across all sectors, especially as it relates to youth welfare and representation.

Ogohi noted that the emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi State was a clear signal of what a capacity filled youth could do if allowed to handle the helm of affairs, stressing that through GYB, youth participation and inclusiveness in politics had taken a new turn in the state.

Amb. Ogohi further called on the unification of Nigeria youth in taking over power in 2023, stressing that ” if we don’t support and stand for what we believe in, no one will do that for us and we would be doing ourselves a great disservice”.

He stressed that one thing that sets Governor Bello apart from others is his strong belief in equity, fairness and justice.

This, he said has been reflected severally in the appointment of his aides and the spread of developmental projects, demonstrated in the provision of infrastructures and utilities in the state.

In his response, the APC Youth leader in River State, who is also an APC statutory delegate, Baridakara Gbarato, thanked the state chairman of Rivers for the arrangement for the interface.

Gbarato noted that beyond individual and party interests, youths must strive to build good relationships and leverage on building a networking platform that could improve members of that constituency.

The youth leader further tasked the youths on active political participation, adding that if politics is left in the hands of the elders, the youth constituency will continue to suffer misrepresentation and good governance.

While lauding the Kogi NYCN efforts shown towards GYB2PYB advocacy in the country, he stressed that at the right time, GYB profile will be accessed and the needful will be done accordingly.

Earlier, the host NYCN Chairman of Rivers State, Nwisabari Bani, commended the leadership traits of Kogi NYCN Chairman and for showing strong desire towards the GYB2PYB emancipation, come 2023.

He further urged and encouraged youths to wake up to the reality of being politically partisan, stressing that we cannot achieve our dream Nigeria or change the narrative of the country without playing our part in the political system.

In a similar event, the President National Youth Council of Nigeria, His Youthfulness Amb. Sukubo Saraigbe, in a chat with newsmen after the council’s annual National Executive Council meeting, disclosed that all youth council members are free to contest in any elective position of their choice.

According to him, there is a need for youth in the council to take advantage of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ opportunity to encourage youth political participation.

He added that the Council would be given their full support to any of its members that want to contest irrespective of the party.

The NYCN boss also reaffirmed NEC recognition of Nassarawa NYCN Chairman as the state leader of the council and the Chairman of all Chairmen position he is currently occupying.

End

The 1st ever Hon Famous Daunemigha Beach Volleyball Championship was held at West Itam Sports Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.

Rivers state beat Trailblazers 2-0 (21-15, 21-8) to win the U21 girls category while Delta state defeated Cobra 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) to win the U21 boys category.

The captain of Rivers State Girls team, Blessing Kingsley told journalist that winning gold medal at the championship will spur her to put more effort in beach volleyball.

Kingsley commended the orgainsers of the championship for organizing such magnitude of championship in the South South appealing Hon Famous Daunemigha to continue sponsoring the championship yearly.

She said, “This is my first time of playing on a beach volleyball court and I give God the glory for making me win my first beach volleyball Gold medal. I want to appreciate my coach for encouraging me to venture into beach volleyball and this medal will make me put more effort in the sport.

“I want to say a big thank you to the orgainsers of this successful championship; everyone is very excited because it has been a long time we witnessed this magnitude of championship”

Meanwhile, the sponsor of the U21 Beach Volleyball Championship, Hon Famous Daunemigha assured athletes and coaches of regular championship in the South South region.

Hon Daunemigha said he is impressed by the turnout of the athletes and spectators adding that sports can be used as a means to curb social vices in the society.

BY Spikers finished third in the U21 Girls event while promising Team Williams placed third position in the U21 boy’s event at the just Hon Famous Daunemigha U21 South South Boys and Girls Beach Volleyball Championship.

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have dignified him with a response, following the response of the party in the state, dissociating itself from such careless and reckless statement. But to make our position clear, setting the record straight and making our voices heard on the matter, we make this salient and sincere response for the records.

It is no longer news that the frustrated former governor, who is looking for who to transfer his frustration and aggression to in other to gain cheap fame, worked against our party, during the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and never denied the same.

For the unpopular former governor to have referred to Governor Wike as a dictator, it shows how lowly he reasons; this may have caused his level of inferiority complex since he can not match up with the capacity and track records of His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, governor of River State.

Recalled that the battered former governor Babangida Aliyu’s selfish ambition to bury a party he killed in the state has stalled the democratic congress in his state simply because he insisted that he will unilaterally handpick party excos against the popular wishes of party members in the state.

We do not have any doubt, however, that his ordained and handpicked excos will help him bury the party in the state come 2023 as we are very sure that in his characteristic manner, he will play his usual anti-party game.

Former governor Babangida Aliyu, who has been accused of diverting ecological funds of the Federal Government, released to Niger State in 2014, to the tune of about N1.940 billion should be more bothered about facing his criminal charges of eight-count money laundering charges.

We will advise that the jobless and out of favour former governor should stop holding onto straws by looking for cheap popularity and sympathy by attacking Governor Nyesom Wike. Instead, he should come out boldly to request help from Nyesome Wike the people’s governor.

As it is now, our dear party needs more unity and peace rather than utterances that can divide the party if truly we are serious about salvaging our dear nation from the present clueless government come 2023.

We are calling and encouraging the leadership of our great party to disregard unserious entities, spurious and disaffection statements and entreaties, their pranks of supporting the NWC, while they are intentionally putting the party apart will never see the light of the day. Aliyu Babangida played this sinister script in 2015, he is at it again against the run-up of 2023.

Signed:

Joseph Martins.
Secretary-General General,
PDP North Central Support Group Alliance Forum

Grace Ayemoba showed class this Friday evening while competing in the 100 meters female event at the ongoing 2020 National Sports Festival in Edo State.

Participating in her fifth National Sports Festival, Ayemoba edged athletes from other states to emerge victorious.

Prior to the Festival, she had won two gold and three silver medals in past events and she promised to ink Rivers state’s name in Gold at this edition.

She won gold in the 2011 event in hurdles and heptathlon, and after winning gold today, she said her plan is to catapult herself to the top an become one of the best athletes in Nigeria.

Ayemoba appreciated the Rivers state government for the unwavering support she and other Athletes are getting to have a good outing at the National Sports Festival.

Event will continue on Saturday and team Rivers will hope to continue having a fine run.

First Runner up at the 2019 edition of Africa’s television reality show, Big Brother Naija, Mike Edwards will represent team Rivers at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival in Edo State.

Mike Edwards is a professional athlete who had represented Great Britain in the past as a long jumper.

The lagos born, United kingdom based athlete was meant to represent Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but was banned for representing Great Britain 10 years prior to the competition which made him ineligible to represent Nigeria as it 2018.

The 28 year old who is also married to an athlete, Perris Shakes-Drayton who is an olympian has now been presented with the opportunity to show Nigerians the stuff he’s made of.

Mike Edwards became an household name in Nigeria when he featured in the 2019 Big Brother Naija, he finished second just behind Mercy Eke, though many touted him to win and his fan base has remained strong and intact ever since.

Apart from sports and entertainment which brought him fame, Mike Edwards is also an entrepreneur, Mike owns the first Black-owned cigar line in the United Kingdom known as Aireyys.

He’s one of the athletes expected to win a gold medal for the well prepared team Rivers.

14 states will be competing for the ultimate title of being crowned winner of the National sports Festival when the basketball event starts on the 7th of April. 

Seven teams each in the men and women’s categories will be doing battles at the Emotan College, Wire Road, Benin City 

In the men’s category, host- Edo will be banking on home support to upset their fellow South-South rivals, Rivers State, Yobe (North East), Kano (North West), Kwara (North Central), Lagos (South West) and Imo (South East). 

In the absence of the Federal Capital Territory team who won the last edition they hosted after beating Gombe Bulls in the finals, a new national champion will definitely emerge with Rivers state being the favorites.

It will be a battle between Borno (North East), Kano (North West), Bayelsa (South South) Nassarawa (North Central), Lagos (South West), Imo (South East) and host- Edo in the women’s category. 

According to basketball tradition, fixtures will be drawn up at the Technical/Pre Match meeting which will take place on Tuesday, 6th April 

In line with its capacity building drive, the Nigeria Basketball Federation will also be organizing a Clinic and Training for the Referees and Table/Technical officials who will be on duty. 

The training will be conducted by Kingsley Ojeaburu, Opeyemi Ogunleye and other FIBA referees present at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Tennis Boardroom by 10.00am on Tuesday

After participating in four different National Sports Festival, 100 meters national hurdles Champion, Grace Ayemoba says she intends to ink Rivers state name in gold at the forthcoming Edo 2020 National Sports Festival.

Ayemoba who has won two gold and three silver medals in past editions said athletes are naturally excited about getting back on track after a long while, adding that the envisaged tough event will bring out the best in her.

“My plan is to hit the olympic standard, this Festival is a boost to all athletes that have been at home, coming together to compete while hoisting the flag of different states. It’s also an opportunity for athletes to make money”.

“It’s a thing of joy to participate in five editions of the festival, but then athletes grow just like babies, so by the Grace of God I don’t wish to come again the next time out, I pray for a bigger challenge and to be among the leading Nigerian athletes taking part in events globally”.

Ayemoba noted that what the Rivers state government is bringing to the table is encouraging and it would be great to reward the state’s keen interest in sport with a podium finish at the multi sports.

The team Rivers athlete has been to the commonwealth games and she placed fourth at the 2018 African Games in hurdles.

She won gold in the 2011 event in hurdles and heptathlon.