N.5m boost for NITO Queens

20.03.2008

IBADAN-BASED philanthropist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uchekinze Nigeria Limited, Chief Isaac Kinze Okonkwo has donated N500,000 to Oyo State female football side, NITO Queens FC, ahead of the female professional league which starts this week.

Chief Kinze, while making the donation in Ibadan charged the girls to go all out and make the state proud this season by winning the women’s professional league shield for the first time for the state.

He, however, called on other corporate bodies in the state to come to the aid of the team and female football in general, saying that the running of football required a lot of money if good results were to be achieved.

He noted that with sponsorship, female football in the country would attain greater heights. “Women’s league is being run in Nigeria without sponsorship over the years and in spite of this inadequacy, we still dominate the game in Africa but this situation is what is reducing the benefits due to the female footballers who playing their own trade in the country,” said the former Crown FC of Ogbomoso player.

Chairman of the club, Mr. Debo Adeoye in his response commended the kind gesture of the Igbo high chief, saying if all well-meaning people in the state can imbibe this kind of spirit, sports in the state would attain new heights.