Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin and Edo Queens have unveiled new jerseys for the 2022/23 football season.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt.Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu was joined by the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Joe ltsebaga Acha and Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., to unveil the new jerseys at the new Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor said the State Government has introduced sports as part of the curriculum in primary and secondary schools across the State.
According to him: “in developing sports in Edo State, we have made it part of the curriculum in our primary and secondary schools. In our public schools, we will dedicate Wednesdays for sporting activities. It will also be part of the continuous assessment in our schools. The era for sports scholarship is back to Edo State”.
“Every year, we will have the Edo State Sports Festival and new talents will be drawn from the grassroots. We will also introduce the Head of Service, HoS Cup, where civil servants will engage in sporting activities. We also have plans for inter-ministerial games, which will commence this year”.
“This year, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has promised and asked the relevant ministry to start the process of building a dedicated stadium and accommodation for Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens Football Clubs. The stadium will be a source of revenue for the club. It will have facilities for camping. The Governor has also approved the purchase of a bus for Bendel Insurance and their supporters’ club”.
“We are doing things differently to enable these clubs compete favourably with other world-class teams and clubs. We are one of the first governments across the world to ensure that our male and female clubs earn same salaries, same allowances and are treated equally without discrimination”.
“We don’t owe salaries for both clubs as we have not owed them salaries in over four and half years now. We pay them on the 24th of every month. We also don’t owe them match allowances or bonuses”, Shaibu added.
In his remarks, the sponsor of Bendel Insurance FC, Sterling Bank, whose Chairman was represented by the Executive Director, Tunde Akinyola, appreciated the club and Edo State Government for the partnership, while reaffirming their continuous support and sponsorship deal.
Similarly, the new sponsor of Edo Queens FC, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Chairman/ CEO Mr. Olarewaju Adeleke affirmed the commitment of his organization to the sponsorship deal with Edo Queens FC and appreciated the State Government for the partnership.
The glamorous event attracted members of the football family in Nigeria, including coaches, footballers, both active and veterans, as well as sports administrators.
