The Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Creativity, Tiza Imojime, on Tuesday said that the 2025 Benue Governor’s Cup will tentatively commence on December 1.

Mr Imojime disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi when he received the leadership of the Benue Football Association (BFA) led by its chairman, Paul Edeh.

The commissioner said that a preliminary committee has been set to ensure that this year’s edition becomes the best in the history of the state.

According to him, they want a new direction where there will be competitions at the ward, local government and the state levels.

He said, “We can have them compete at the local government level from December 1 and 10. Then we take a break for them to select their teams. From December 15 to 20, because of the closeness to Christmas, we will host the main tournament. The Super 10 will play from January 4, 5 and 6, 2026, before we have the finals, subject to the approval of the governor and the State Executive Committee,”

He described the competition as the biggest sporting event in the state and the most prestigious.

The commissioner said that this year’s edition would take the shape of a local tournament with international characteristics.

“What we saw in 2024, I think it was the first of its kind for us. The President of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) was in attendance, sitting side by side with the governor at the finals, and that was colourful. This year’s edition is going to be super, super follow-up. We’ve had some back-room conversations, and I’ll just give us a little bit.

“We’re going to have the Governor’s Cup this year which will look like a local tournament with international characteristics. Because not just Nigeria, not just Benue, not just Africa—we are going to make sure the world knows that the Benue Governor’s Cup is being played this time. The world has been reduced to a global village, so whatever we do here, you can watch it anywhere in the world. It is going to get there,” he said.

Mr Imojime lauded the Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) for supporting the tournament.

The commissioner called on other groups to also support the tournament.

Mr Edeh said that the 2024 edition of the tournament was unique in many ways.

The BFA chairman said that it was the first time that the competition had both the male and female components.

He said that there was no segregation between the male and female football competition as the prizes, the trophies and even the jerseys were the same.

Mr Edeh solicited the commissioner’s approval for the association to proceed with the preparations.

(NAN)