Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has rewarded international football star Francesca Ordega with a gift of N50 million and a three-bedroom apartment in Makurdi in recognition of her contributions to Nigerian football. The presentation was made during a dinner event on Thursday night.
Ordega, a native of Gboko, was part of the Nigerian team that recently won the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, marking her fifth title with the national team.
Governor Alia praised Ordega as the state’s “greatest sports ambassador in recent times,” highlighting her as an inspiration for young girls aspiring to pursue sports. He also announced that a major street in the state capital would be renamed in her honor.
Additionally, the governor gifted N10 million to the coach who mentored Ordega during her early career in Benue, acknowledging the importance of grassroots development.
In her remarks, Ordega expressed her gratitude for the support and called on state and national stakeholders to invest in sports infrastructure, training programs, and talent identification initiatives. She also advocated for scholarship programs to ensure young athletes can pursue both their sports dreams and quality education.
The event, which was also attended by music star Innocent Idibia, also known as TuFace, saw the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) present a special award to Governor Alia in appreciation of his support for Nigerian football.
