Benue Governor Alia Launches 2nd Governor’s Cup, Honors Star

On November 12, 2026, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia approved preparations for the second edition of the Benue State Governor’s Cup. He directed that Esther Ene Stephen, a defender from Benue who played a crucial role in Nigeria's victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, be invited for recognition.

The governor announced the provision of 1,000 footballs for the tournament and local football academies, along with jerseys for participating teams. During a meeting with Rt. Hon. Nick Eworo, the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Creativity, and Chief Dr. Paul Edeh, Chairman of the Benue State Football Association, Alia expressed hope that the enthusiasm for football could help discover and nurture local talent.

He praised the first edition of the competition as the best organized in the state’s history and tasked Eworo and Edeh with surpassing its achievements. Alia emphasized the importance of supporting other sports associations as well.