By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki says the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) has been used to tackle human trafficking in the state.

The First Lady noted that the BOWFT has reduced human trafficking in the state as it has created a platform and pathway through which girls have a successful career in female football.

Mrs. Obaseki spoke to journalists in Benin on Monday at a press briefing to herald the 4th edition of BOWFT tourney.

The First Lady, who noted that when the tournament started years back, it started with 12 teams, disclosed that this year’s edition teams increased to 14.

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Mrs. Obaseki, while stating that 2 out of the 14 teams are foreign, added that nine premiership clubs are also participating in the event that will last 10 days.

The First Lady who disclosed that this year’s tourney has its theme as ‘Say No to Teen Pregnancy and Abandonment’, added: “In the first edition, the theme was Girl Child Education; second year was, Say No to Drugs. For the third year, it was Gender-based Violence while this year, it’s Say No to Teen Pregnancy and Abandonment.”

The First Lady, while noting that the tourney is beyond playing football, said it seeks to touch the lives of women in Edo state and Nigeria at large.

She said the idea of the tournament was to empower women in Nigeria and support them to make a career out of football.

When asked future of the tourney when she leaves office, the Edo First Lady said the tournament would certainly continue after the end of Obaseki’s led-administration.

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She disclosed that the tournament is private sector funded and sponsored with a board in place alongside a marketer, adding that she is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the tourney with other notable Nigerians and organisations as members.

Speaking on cash prize of the tourney, the Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the BOWFT said: ‘The prize has also increased and doubled. We started with N5 million for the winner but this year, we have increased it to N10 million for the winner.

“After our first outing, FIFA recognized our efforts in promoting female football and empowering women and gave us an award,” she added.

According to her, when her husband took over power in the state 8 years back, sports was completely dead but with efforts the administration was about to revive sports and push Edo Queens from beneath to top of league.

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She added: “Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration revived sports and ensure it brought back Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens to winning way as the Benin Clubs are now national and West African champions.

“Since this tournament, Edo Queens are getting better as they became the champion last year and continue in that line by winning the WAFU Cup to represent West Africa.

“This tournament has produced players that played for our female national team and also for foreign Clubs as our efforts are yielding desirable results.

“The tournament is helping to grow and develop female football in Nigeria also creating opportunities for our female children to make a career out of football”.