Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike has redeemed his pledge of $20,000 (N15.6 million) to each player and official of Rivers United Football Club, who won the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title.
Wike announced the donation during a reception organised last July in Port Harcourt to honour the team for emerging NPFL champions for the first time.
The pledge was presented to the team by the state Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Chris Green, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The governor said that the gesture is in fulfilment of his earlier promise to reward those who bring honours to the state.
Green extolled Wike for his magnanimity and unending support to the club.
“I am not even surprised because it’s part of him. His Excellency the Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike is a giver. He has a ministry of giving. Like I have always said you cannot meet him and go back empty; that is the kind of person he is. He is so compassionate, he is so benevolent. I am saying it with all amount of responsibility; his Excellency never for once stopped in the support of this team.
“As a governor who matches his words with action, he has also promised to monitor the progress of the team in CAF competition as the state will always stand with the team”, the Commissioner said.
The General Manager of Rivers United Chief Okey Kpalukwu thanked the governor on behalf of the management, players, technical crew and backroom staff for fulfilling his promise.
According to Kpalukwu, “we will continue to appreciate our governor because this is the first of its kind in the history of football in Nigeria”.
