KWALE/Nigeria: The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, has been honoured with a Distinguished Grand Patron of Grassroots Sports Development award in recognition of his contributions to youth empowerment and grassroots football development.
The award was presented by the Next Football Stars Foundation shortly after the grand finale of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Young Stars Cup, held on Sunday.
Presenting the award, Rear Admiral Mike Onah, OON (rtd), read from the citation which acknowledged Sir Onyeme’s “outstanding leadership and enduring commitment to youth empowerment through grassroots football development.”
Earlier, the Deputy Governor had performed the ceremonial kickoff to signal the commencement of the final match, drawing applause from players and spectators.
While dedicating the award to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the people of Delta State, Onyeme said the honour reflected the state government’s passion for sports development, particularly at the grassroots level.
He noted that Deltans have continued to embrace sports, especially football, a development he said has made talents from the state attractive to international football clubs.
“This is one of the ways of catching them young. Providing equal opportunities for all Deltans remains a core component of the MORE Agenda, and sports development must continue to be encouraged,” Onyeme said.
He added that sporting activities help to keep youths positively engaged while preparing them physically and mentally for future challenges. Commending the Next Football Stars Foundation, the Deputy Governor said the competition had created a platform for identifying and nurturing young talents capable of becoming future champions.
“This is how we build our nation and position ourselves on the global football map. Both teams performed excellently. While one team must win, in football everyone is a winner and should be encouraged to improve and stay dedicated,” he added.
Earlier, the Founder of the Next Football Stars Foundation, Udoka Edike, said the foundation is a youth-focused organisation committed to empowering young people through football, education and mentorship.
She explained that the foundation provides opportunities for discovering football talents from local communities and exposing them to national and international platforms.
The final match featured Team A and Team B, with Team A emerging winners after scoring the only goal of the encounter in the 70th minute through jersey number 11, Stemiyi Oladotun.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the award to the Deputy Governor, alongside trophies and prizes to outstanding players who participated in the competition.
