Sports
D’Tigress Player Receives N30m, N50m project, in Ebonyi
Ebonyi State governor Francis Nwifuru has rewarded D’Tigress forward Blessing Ejiofor with N30m and a duplex, while also approving a N50m basketball project in her honour.
The gesture follows Ejiofor’s role in helping Nigeria’s women’s basketball team secure a record fifth consecutive Afrobasket title in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Governor Nwifuru, in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, described the player as a source of pride to the state and an inspiration to young girls.
“I am delighted to once again celebrate and congratulate our very own daughter, Blessing Munachi Ejiofor, one of the champions who brought prestige to our nation by securing a historic five-straight title in the African Women’s Basketball tournament in Abidjan, Ivory Coast,” he said.
“Additionally, the State has made a donation of Thirty Million Naira to her and a duplex in our ongoing Civil and Public Servants Estate opposite Chiboy Motors,” the statement read in part.
The governor also praised Ejiofor’s work in empowering young girls through her foundation, noting her appeal for greater investment in youth basketball.
“We also recognise her efforts in empowering girls through the Muna Foundation’s Girls Empowerment Camp. She has implored the State to help groom young Ebonyi girls for the basketball sport.
“As such, in her honour, we have approved the sum of Fifty Million Naira for the State Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to build a befitting and professional basketball court for our young girls and boys talented in the sport. Once more, we congratulate her for making us proud,” the governor concluded.
Following their triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, President Bola Tinubu has also honoured the D’Tigress with a reward package that includes $100,000 for each player, $50,000 for every member of the coaching and technical crew, a three-bedroom flat each and also conferred on the players and their technical crew the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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