De-Patriot News Desk
In a bid to empower young footballers and promote grassroots sports development, the maiden edition of the Benin Unity Cup was officially launched with the unveiling of the trophy and a thrilling draw ceremony. The event, held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium’s Media Centre in Benin City.
The unveiling ceremony drew the presence of key figures in the state’s sports ecosystem, including top officials of the Edo State Sports Commission and executives of the Edo State Football Association (Edo FA), among other stakeholders.
In a statement released through his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, commended Senator Imasuen for what he described as “a laudable initiative that aligns perfectly with the state government’s vision for sports development.”
Enabulele emphasized the need to sustain the momentum of talent discovery through structured follow-up programmes aimed at grooming young footballers for professional advancement.
“We applaud this initiative because our primary objective as a Commission is to identify and nurture young talents in line with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s sports development plan,” Enabulele stated.
Speaking during the unveiling, Senator Neda Imasuen highlighted that the Benin Unity Cup was conceived as a youth empowerment platform designed to engage young people productively through sports and create opportunities for talent exposure.
“We will ensure that international scouts are on ground to identify these talents. Our goal is to help them realise their potential and develop their skills to international standards,” the Senator said.
The group draws, conducted by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Charity Amanyaevbo, produced the following pairings:
Group A: Ovia North East, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, and Uhunmwode
Group B: Oredo 1, Ovia South West, Orhionmwon, and Oredo 2
Delivering a goodwill message, the Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, described the unveiling as “unique and inspiring,” commending Senator Imasuen for his commitment to grassroots sports.
Shaibu also announced that the NIS would soon establish zonal centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to deepen grassroots sports development and talent discovery nationwide.
“This unveiling is special because it is happening here at home,” Shaibu remarked.
Set to commence on November 20 and climax on December 20, 2025, the Benin Unity Cup will feature teams from the seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District. Each participating team will receive a full set of jerseys for 22 players.
Prizes for the tournament include ₦1 million for the champion, ₦700,000 for the runner-up, ₦500,000 for the third-placed team, and ₦300,000 for the fourth position.
With its strong focus on grassroots football, youth empowerment, and community integration, the Benin Unity Cup is poised to become a flagship event for nurturing future football stars and promoting unity across Edo South.
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