Journalist donates trophy for church football competition
Photo : The donor 5th from left presenting the golden trophy to the church management. Pix by Everest Ezihe, Owerri.
By Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Counselor Odowueze Ubanze has donated a giant golden trophy for the 2026 Imo Baptist Conference Royal Ambassadors football competition coming up this October.
Ubanze who’s a Correspondent of Channels Television in Imo State did the presentation on Tuesday at the Imo Baptist Conference RA Secretariat, New Owerri before the Conference Chairman, Rev Joseph Ogidi, Executive Committee members of the church, RA Conference Director, Royal Ambassadors and Coordinators
He pointed out that he’s patriotically driven and perturbed by the level of criminalities and social vices engulfing the society, most especially among the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.
These vices he said includes cultism, prostitution , armed robbery, kidnappings, disrespect among others
The donor who’s also a Counselor of Royal Ambassadors and a member of the Men Missionary Union of the church informed that the intra football competition will be among the affiliate associations that constitutes the Church Royal Ambassadors in the State, and these includes; Evangelical Baptist, Life Gate, Divine Grace, and Progress Associations among others as each of these associations within Imo State Baptist Conference will produce a team.
He expressed optimism that the Royal Ambassadors, RA inter association’s football tournament is commencing this October while the quarter finals and finals will be played in November with the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. David Olusola Idowu in attendance.
The Journalist expressed hope that the trophy and its associated tournament would grow into a football competition, with participants forming a club capable of competing at the State and national levels.
He thanked the Imo Baptist Conference, the umbrella body of all Baptist churches in Imo State, for providing the platform for the tournament and promised to continue supporting the church’s mission.
Earlier in his official presidential address, Rev. Uzoma Uzoeshi, PhD, the President of Imo Baptist Conference described the presentation ceremony as significant, just as the trophy institutionalizes excellent performance in and support to RA
Ministry.
While commending Ubanze for his philanthropic gesture and commitments, Uzoeshi observed that the competition will create healthy growth, builds leadership, and give the annual competition a legacy team for other competing football competitions in the State or the nation at large..
The revered man of God further stated that discipleship is a holistic affair, as the competition is aimed at raising young men who are strong in spirit, sound in mind, and fit in the body.
According to him, “the church that engages its youth on the field will keep them faithful at the altar.
Uzoeshi noted that this is a time when the youth faces pressure from idleness, drugs, and crime, but the competition provides Godly alternative, that projects the Church as a solution-provider, raising ambassadors of peace, discipline, and purpose in Imo State.
“Councilor Ubanze, on behalf of the entire Imo Baptist Conference, I extend our profound gratitude. Your generosity, will echo beyond this hall into the lives of many young men you may never meet. You have invested in Kingdom work” he reassured.
The President made a passionate appeal to Churches, Associations, and friends of the Ministry to join hands and sponsor a team, by donating kits, or support logistics, saying that together they can build a Conference where their youths are victoriously busy, discipled, and deployed for Christ and for community transformations.
