Governor Sheriff Oborevwori , represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo , stated this in Asaba at the kick off ceremony of the 2025 Zenith Bank Delta Headmasters’ Cup Competition between Okwe Primary School Asaba and Ezemese Primary School Ibusa.
While commending Zenith Bank for its continued sponsorship of the Headmasters’ Cup, the Delta State Governor gave an assurance that his administration was determined to sustain the state leading position in sports in the country through deliberate and sustained investment in youth development.
Governor Oborevworri urged the primary school football players to play with passion, discipline, and fairness.
He stated further, ”Remember, you are not only representing your schools but also writing the first pages of your personal stories. Many great footballers began just like you on school fields, with dreams in their hearts and hope in their eyes. With hard work, humility and perseverance, the sky will be your starting point”
”To our teachers, headmasters and coaches, I say thank you. You are the backbone of this initiative. Your mentorship and commitment continue to shape the character of our future leaders and champions”
In a remark, Delta State Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu
said the yearly tournament had become one of the proud symbols of the state commitment to grassroots sports development and youth empowerment .
Ashibogwu revealed that since the inception of the Zenith Bank Delta Headmasters’ Cup, many promising young footballers across primary schools in the state had been discovered, and were being nurtured and trained to become football stars.
He said, ”Some of them have gone on to represent Delta State and even Nigeria in age-grade competitions. This is one of the ideals of our MORE Agenda, because when we invest in the energy and potential of our children, we are investing in a brighter, stronger and more peaceful Delta State”
”I commend Zenith Bank Ple for its unwavering partnership and consistent investment in the future of our children. This initiative is not just about football; it is about building character, discipline, teamwork and dreams among our young ones. Zenith Bank has once again demonstrated that corporate organizations can play a vital role in shaping a better society through sustained collaboration with government”
Representative of Zenith Bank, Ogunbor Ubaka described the sports sponsorship initiative as part of the bank Youth and Sports Development Programme, which he said aligns strongly with the Corporate Social Responsibility pillars-education, youth empowerment, and community development.
He stated, ”Over the years, Zenith Bank has continued to invest in grassroots sports, including the Lagos Zenith Bank Basketball League, Delta State Principals’ Cup, and this Delta state Headmaster’s Football Cup, which focuses on pupils in primary schools between ages 6 and 12-the foundation stage of academic and physical development”
”We express our profound appreciation to His Excellency, Rt Hon, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, for his remarkable leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing sports in Delta State. The Governor’s support continues to provide a solid foundation for programs such as this competition, which plays a pivotal role in nurturing future talents”
”At Zenith Bank, we believe that sports are more than physical activity. Sports build discipline, teamwork, leadership, responsibility and character. These are values we hold dearly and are committed to promoting among young Nigerians. We see this competition not just as a football tournament, but as a platform for early talent discovery, youth development, and educational growth”.
Also see: 756 Schools Gear Up for Action as Zenith Bank Kicks Off 2025 Delta State Headmasters’ Football Cup
Meanwhile, in the opening match of the competition, Ezemese Primary School, Ibusa in Oshimili North local government area of Delta State defeated Okwe Primary School, Asaba in Oshimili South local government area but a lone goal.
Ogun Delight of Ezemese Primary School scored the only goal of the match in the first half, as Okwe Primary School failed to score a penalty kick awarded to it by the referee following an infringement committed by the player of Ezemese Primary School team.
In a post match interviews, the captain of the winning school team, Ernest Success, expressed satisfaction with the victory while his counterpart Oputa Chigoziem of Okwe Primary School Asaba said his team would improve in subsequent matches despite failing to score a penalty kick.
