Joel Ajayi
The Chairman of Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Chief Dr Paul Edeh Esq has described the Newstap/SWAN award as unique among previous Honours bestowed on him.
Chief Edeh who spoke shortly after receiving the award in Lagos said the distinct media honour will spur him to do more for humanity, beyond women football.
Though, the BSFA Chairman is the only football administrator who owns two women clubs – Naija Ratels and Honey Badgers, now Benue Queens in Nigeria’s top flight League, he has shown great philanthropic gesture in education, health and physical infrastructure.
As at last count, nearly 1000 pupils and students in primary, secondary and higher institutions across Nigeria have benefited from his scholarship scheme in recent times.
He has also consistently given succour and means of livelihood to orphans, widows and many others at the Internally displaced centres.
Talking about his passion for his continued philanthropy, Chief Edeh said, “Giving and taking people who don’t have means, is what I cherish so much. That’s why in football, I prefer investing in women because our women need more attention.
“Most persons seem to cater for the men football, perhaps due to return on investment opportunities in that area.
“But I choose women because they need to be encouraged to be better and be taken off the streets.”
Specifically, the legal luminary turned sports aficionado stamped his feet in affirmation, saying, “I’m dedicating this award to our women footballers to enable them do more in the game. They’ve conquered Africa many times and also did well at the world level and I want them to maintain the momentum.”
He commended the organisers of the Newstap/SWAN award and urged well-to-do Nigerians, especially women to see investment in women football as an opportunity to create more jobs and help the game to grow.
“I know that returns in terms of money might be meager, but the lives one touches can’t be quantified in the long run,” he said.
