The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Enabulele, has received the national leadership of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), led by its National Secretary, Patrick Okpavuerhe.
Okpavuerhe commended Enabulele for his remarkable strides in youth sports development, particularly Edo State’s impressive achievements in grassroots football.
He explained that YSFON was in Edo to request the hosting rights for either this year’s President Unity Cup, scheduled for September 25 to October 1, 2025, or the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament. The proposal, he noted, was reached at the federation’s last Central Working Committee meeting in recognition of Edo’s consistent contributions to grassroots sports.
Highlighting the history of the President Unity Cup, first held in 1982 after former President Shehu Shagari donated the trophy, Okpavuerhe said the tournament has evolved into a platform for celebrating President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s independence through sports, fostering national unity.
YSFON, founded in 1965, also pointed to its long-standing organisation of the Under-14 Boys and Under-17 Girls Chief of Naval Staff Tournament, held since 1999 but never hosted in Edo State.
The federation’s National Welfare Officer and Acting National Organising Secretary, Ahmed Abdullah, further praised Edo’s outstanding performance at the recent National Youth Games in Asaba, describing the state as one of Nigeria’s leading promoters of grassroots sports.
Responding on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman, the Executive Director representing Edo Central, Barrister Anthony Ikuenobe, assured the YSFON delegation of the Commission’s readiness to collaborate.
