Bayelsa, Barcelona Seal Deal On Football Academy As Okoroma United Win N40m Prosperity Cup

The Bayelsa State Government and Spanish football giants, FC Barcelona, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a football academy in the state.

The agreement was signed during the grand finale of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged Prosperity Cup 2026, held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex on Friday.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, signed on behalf of the state government, while Mr. Bernat Villa Garris represented Barcelona at the ceremony witnessed by former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, and the federation’s Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

In the male final of the competition, Okoroma United from Nembe Local Government Area edged Akinima Biogbo of Yenagoa Local Government Area 1-0 to emerge champions of the eighth edition of the tournament.

The victory earned Okoroma United the star prize of N40 million, while runners-up Akinima Biogbo received N13 million.

In the female category, Active Ladies of Agudama defeated defending champions Afini Ladies of Amarata by a lone goal to clinch the N10 million prize money, while the runners-up got N7 million.

Speaking at the event, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, described the partnership with Barcelona as a major step towards youth development and sports advancement in the state.

According to him, the football academy would create opportunities for young talents and steer youths away from social vices.

Governor Diri reiterated his administration’s commitment to sports development, assuring that the state government would deliver the proposed 30,000-capacity stadium project by 2027.

He noted that the Prosperity Cup had grown significantly since his administration assumed office in 2020, stressing that the competition had become one of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournaments.

“On assuming office, we saw the Governor’s Football Tournament as a tool for youth engagement, development and empowerment. So we wasted no time in investing in and expanding it,” he said.

The governor revealed that participation in the tournament increased from just over 100 teams last year to 227 teams in the current edition, with the introduction of female and para-soccer categories.

He commended the players for their professionalism and improved standard of play, noting that most of the talents discovered were from Bayelsa State.

Diri also appreciated the tournament’s organising committee led by Mr. Ono Akpe, as well as sponsors and partners including Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance Plc, Niger Delta Development Commission, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and Arco Group for supporting sports development in the state.

The governor, however, expressed disappointment over the poor performance of state-owned club, Bayelsa United, in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League season and charged the management and Sports Commissioner to ensure the team avoids relegation.

Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, Mr. Garris said the Barcelona delegation had identified enormous football talents in Bayelsa.

“It is a pleasure for us to be here in Bayelsa to see the big improvement the state is making in sports and we will love to be part of this big event,” he said.

Also speaking, Amaju Pinnick, who chaired the occasion, praised the Diri administration for its deliberate investment in sports development.

He said the quality displayed by players in the tournament showed that Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region possessed talents comparable to some of the world’s best footballers.

The Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Dr. Emmanuel Emefienim, represented by the bank’s Chief Business Officer, South-South, Dr. Aniebet Offiong, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to sports development in Bayelsa and across Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, donated N10 million to increase the men’s champions’ prize money, while a member of the House of Representatives, Ali Isa, donated N5 million to the female champions and an additional N5 million to the tournament organisers.