Bayelsa State has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FC Barcelona to set up a football academy.
The agreement was signed on Friday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex during the final of the 8th edition of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament.
Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Sports, Dr Daniel Igali, signed for the state government, with Mr Bernat Villa Garris representing Barcelona.
Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick and NFF secretary general Dr Mohammed Sanusi attended the ceremony.
Governor Douye Diri said the partnership with one of Europe’s biggest clubs would create more opportunities for young players in the state and help steer them away from crime.
He added that his administration remained committed to sports investment, including a planned 30,000-seater stadium due for completion in 2027.
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Diri stressed that the Prosperity Cup had grown massively since 2020.
This year’s tournament featured 227 teams, up from just over 100 last year, with the introduction of female and para categories. Twenty-one women’s teams took part.
"Football is a money-spinning sport capable of bringing youths into the limelight." Diri said.
He thanked sponsors including Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and urged more firms to back grassroots sport.
On the pitch, Okoroma United of Nembe beat Akinima Biogbo of Yenagoa 1-0 to win the men’s final and take home forty million naira (N40m).
Runners-up Akinima Biogbo received thirteen million naira (N13m.).
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In the women’s final, Active Ladies of Agudama defeated defending champions Afini Ladies of Amarata by the same scoreline to claim ten million naira (N10m), with the runners-up getting seven million naira (N7m).
Barcelona’s Villa Garris said the delegation had seen "a lot of talent" in Bayelsa and wanted to support player and coach development.
Pinnick said the standard on display showed Bayelsa and the Niger Delta had players of the calibre of Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) comptroller general, Bashir Adeniyi, added ten million naira (N10m) to the men’s prize pool, while House of Representatives member Ali Isa contributed five million naira (N5m) to the women’s prize and another five million naira (N5m) to organisers.
Diri also lamented over Bayelsa United’s poor run in the Nigeria Professional Football League and urged the club’s management and the sports ministry to avoid relegation.
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