who bankrolled a grassroots football tournament that ended on January 2.Egbe, the CEO of Monimichelle said he decided to sponsor the grassroots football tournament won by Ogboin United of Ogboinbiri as a way of getting the youths to say no to militancy and yes to sports.He promised to make the tournament an annual event that can only get bigger and better.
Monimichelle boss who is a major stakeholder in the sports industry, said wants to use football to turn things around in the Southern Ijaw local government which is the heartbeat of militancy in the Niger Delta. “I’ m out to change the narrative of Southern Ijaw being the hotbed of militancy. I’m confident sports, especially football can be used to redirect the energy of the youths. Rather than engage in militancy, I want them to be engaged in football. The kind of mammoth crowd that watched the matches, especially the final was a clear indication that with sports the youths of Apoi will become worthy ambassadors of Nigeria,” Egbe said.
“If the NDDC and the oil companies put just 10 percent of what they are using to fight militancy into sports and the provision of sporting infrastructure in Southern Ijaw there would be nothing like militancy anymore. I can put my money on this. We all know the power of football, especially in the Niger Delta region where soccer talents abound,” Egbe said.