By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has eceived Super Eagles and Udinese FC goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Enugu, South-East Nigeria.
Okoye, who is from Enugu State, expressed excitement at returning to his roots and announced plans to launch a charity foundation and establish a football academy in the state.
He said these initiatives aimed to give back to society, inspire young talents, and nurture future stars.
“I’m truly excited to be back home. Enugu is my origin and I carry it with pride everywhere I go. I look forward to giving back by setting up a foundation for humanitarian causes and a football academy to mentor and train aspiring players,” he said.
Responding, Gov. Mbah commended Okoye for making the State proud on the national and international stage.
He applauded the goalkeeper’s commitment to youth development and announced that the state government would appoint him as an Ambassador of Enugu State, describing him as a role model who would inspire young people, particularly pupils in the state’s Smart Green Schools.
“Maduka Okoye represents the best of Enugu talent on the national and global stage,” Gov. Mbah said.
“As a state, we are proud of his achievements and inspired by his desire to give back. We are appointing him as an Ambassador of Enugu State, and we believe he will be a great source of motivation for the next generation of talents in our Smart Green Schools and communities”, he added.
The governor further pledged to support Okoye’s football academy initiative, announcing that the state would provide land for the project.
He also shared plans to revamp and upgrade the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to meet FIFA standards, and invited Okoye to participate in the next edition of the Enugu International Marathon, which will attract elite runners from around the world.
Mbah reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting youth development, talent and creativity, stating that government would continue to create opportunities for young people in Enugu State to thrive nationally and globally.
Video Claiming FG, North, Some SE Govs Plan To Transport Arms To Kill Igbos False, Says Army
Meanwhile, the headquarters of 82 Division, Nigerian Army / Joint Task Force South-East Operation Udo Ka(JTF – SE OPUK), has warned South-East residents to be wary been of an old and misleading voiceover video currently re-circulating on social media.
In a statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the Army said that the perpetrators alleged that the Federal Government, in collaboration with some South-East and Northern Governors, intends to transport weapons of different types through airports in order to attack residents of the South-East.
According to the statement, the claims contained in the video are entirely deceptive and represent a calculated attempt to incite disaffection among ethnic groups in the country.
“Ordinarily, the Division / JTF – SE OPUk would not dignify such baseless allegations with a response but in line with our overarching mission to ensure peace and security for socio-economic development in the region, we find it necessary to strongly condemn the misinformation that is designed to instil fear and cause public anxiety.
“Furthermore, all security agencies operating in the South-East region have significantly fostered peaceful coexistence through the effective neutralisation of threats to physical security. As such, any attempt by anyone or groups of persons to undermine the security architecture in the region is an effort in futility.
“The public is therefore urged to remain vigilant and rely only on accurate and verified information from credible sources, especially in this era of artificial intelligence and digitally manipulated content. Relevant security agencies are currently on trail of the perpetrators. All residents are equally urged to promote peaceful atmosphere through unity and mutual trust in the interest of national security”.
