Sports
Aiyegbeni To Launch Charity Foundation
Nigeria striker, Yakubu Ayegbeni will launch a charity Foundation and football academy before next year’s African Nations Cup to assist underprivileged children in Nigeria.
“I just believe that I have had a successful career and the best thing I can do for myself and my family, is to put some of what I have got into helping other people so that they can also be in a position to help others too in the future.
“I think that is the way for all of us to help develop our country,” Yakubu said.
The player’s advisor Adedapo Kujore-Olowu said that plans for the charity had been in the pipeline for a while, and the time was now right to get started.
“Yakubu believes that he would not be where he is without Nigeria, and he has always felt that he needed to do something in his own little way to say thank you to his country for what it has done for him.
“So this is a process that has been in the works for some time now, and we believe the time is right to start something,” Olowu said.
“Yakubu is one of the most recognised players in Nigeria. He has played for three Premier League clubs and scored goals wherever he has played.
“Now, he feels it is time for him to start scoring goals of a different sort which would help give underprivileged children in Nigeria a chance to make something out of their lives.”
The ‘Yak Foundation and Football Academy’ will not only help underprivileged children, especially those in orphanages; it will also help in taking care of public schools to help improve the standard of education in Nigeria.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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