The second edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT), was concluded on September 16, 2022 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Robo FC of Lagos won and was crowned as champions after beating the host Edo Queens 1-0.
The 3rd place match, saw Delta Queens defeat Nasarawa Amazons 4-2 on penalties, after a barren full and extra time.
BOWFT, a creation of Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, First Lady of Edo State, is Nigeria’s only pre-season women football championship, with the theme – ‘Say No to Drugs’. According to Mrs. Obaseki, BOWFT is aimed at raising awareness on the adverse effects of drug abuse among youths.
The Edo First Lady deserves commendation for the various cash prices, but especially, the congruent positive step to help fight the negative impact of drug abuse in our communities.
The 10-day event succeeded in raising awareness on the adverse effects of drug abuse among youths, through seminar and lecture that brought over 10,000 youths, eminent personalities, guests and representatives from Nigeria’s 36 states to advance the campaign against drug abuse and interrelationship with impact on sports and the larger society.
“Be reminded that the theme of this year’s tournament is ‘Say No to Drugs’” Mrs. Obaseki stressed during her closing remarks.
The charge by the Federal Minister of Sport Mr. Sunday Dare, demonstrated the fitting place of BOWFT when he charged all the visiting First Ladies to go back home and replicate the football tournament or any other sport program in their various states, to help address the dangers of drug abuse.
With the menace of drug use and abuse in Edo State and other states of Nigeria, initiative like BOWFT is a welcome change from rhetorics to action.