Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, the first lady of Edo State, accompanied other members of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) organizing committee on Monday as they inspected the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other tournament facilities in preparation for the second edition.
The competition, which is set to start on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, will be centered on advancing the government’s anti-drug addiction initiative.
“The opening and closing ceremonies of the game will be held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium,” stated Obaseki.
She continued, “This venue will host the final. This stadium is not the only facility we will utilize during the competition.
“We received a lot of inquiries, but we are only able to accept 13 teams. It was twelve last year, and there could be fourteen next year. The girls are eager to outperform themselves from last year and we are ready. The winner of this year will take home N5 million.”
“The tournament’s goal is to leave a lasting impression on our ladies. When it came to human trafficking, we suffered greatly. We are putting a lot of effort into finding our girls another way to make money. Our goal is to alter the state’s narrative and perception.
“Both corporate and private supporters support us. The inaugural edition was of the highest caliber, and FIFA recognized our efforts internationally. We’re going to do better this year. Football isn’t the only activity we have planned. The competition encompasses more than just football.”
The Edo first lady said the competition last year focused on human trafficking, adding, “This year, it will be focusing on combating drug abuse in Nigeria. We will have discussions around the topic with our young girls and also invite secondary school students to have interactions with us.”
