Sports
Centre Celebrates Keshi’s Seventh Anniversary
The Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Centre (SKFVTC), on Wednesday, rolled out the red carpet to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the demise of one of Nigeria’s biggest football heroes, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
Keshi was a colossus in Nigerian football. Apart from being the first Nigerian to captain a team to the senior FIFA World Cup, he was also the first and still the only footballer from the country to win the African Cup of Nations as a player and also as a coach.
Every year, SKFVTC remembers the legendary ‘Big Boss’ on July 7 with a yearly memorial lecture and the Stephen Keshi National U-17 Football Tournament in commemoration of his lifetime achievements in football and sensitise the football family on the need to remember those who served the country meritoriously.
According to SKFVTC, this year’s activities would have marked the sixth edition of the yearly lecture and U-17 tournament, but the events had to be put off because of the suspended NLC/TUC strike earlier scheduled Wednesday.
Speaking on the anniversary activities, Louis Brown Ogbeifun and Augustine Popo, who are chairman and secretary respectively of the SKFVTC board of trustees, said in a statement, “Keshi died in Benin City on June 7, 2016 and after his demise, the Late Enogie of Obazuwa, Edun Akenzua, a close friend of the ‘Big Boss,’ donated a vast land for a football village, which would turn Obazuwa into a tourist destination. Sadly, the Enogie also has joined his ancestors. Though getting support for them has been challenging, the Board of the SKVTC remains unrelenting and working hard to actualize Enogie’s dream.
“The SKFVTC, Obazuwa, occupies a vast plot of land measuring 1,000 feet by 1,000 feet, which is close to a seaport in Edo State. The plot was gifted free of charge to the SKFVTC, which was set up as a public-private partnership project aimed at revolutionizing the football profession in the country. When completed, it will serve as a development center for the training of budding sports talents in Nigeria and Africa; more importantly, the football complex will help to immortalise the name of Stephen Keshi and the Late Enogie of Obazuwa, Edun Akenzua for their contributions to Football development.”
According to the statement, “the SKFVTC integrated football village has four football-playing pitches, hostels, an agro-allied section, primary and secondary schools, vocational training workshops, etc.
“When completed, the SKFVTC can, directly and indirectly, generate employment for more than 1,000 Nigerians. It will serve, among others, as an integrated non-profit football village for identifying, nurturing, and developing talented football youths nationwide”.
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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