Mike Ejiogu Okigwe Zonal Unity Cup: A N25M Youth Empowerment And Talent Discovery Football Initiative 

 The above however, are the driving forces behind the Mike Ejiogu Okigwe Zonal Unity Cup 2025/2026—  as it  marked yet another milestone in people-oriented leadership, selfless community services, advocacy for productive youth engagements, and social development — officially flagging off the football tournament at the Isinweke mini- stadium in Ihitte Uboma LGA, Imo State, on Saturday, 4th October, 2025, capturing obvious excitement among sports lovers and numerous football enthusiasts.

In a show of football skills, fantastic dribbling, and highly cordinated ball controls like in the English Premier League, the opening match ceremony performed by the representative of High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu —Hon. Ben Duru Onyedikachi —  was between the Progressive Stars of Isiala Mbano and Bright Stars of Ihitte Uboma. The game which ended in goalless draw after the 90mins play time, attracted many football lovers as the villagers, passers-by, motorcycle riders (okada), keke and bus operators, and onlookers stopped over at the field to cheer up their favourite teams to victory.

Yours sincerely, a Nigerian eye witness news reporter, media consultant, and Publisher of 4th Estate Reporters, opined from the benefit of hindsight that the biggest football fiesta in the history of Okigwe zone— singlehandedly sponsored by an Imo illustrious son—High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu (Onowu Anara Ancient Kingdom) — which started on Saturday, 4th October, 2025, would be played throughout the year until Saturday, 3rd January, 2026, slated for the grand finale at the Central School Anara, Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo State.

Disclosing the prize awards for the various positions, Hon. Ben Duru Onyedikachi —  Chairman— Central Organizing Committee(COC) —Mike Ejiogu Okigwe Zonal Unity Cup —reiterated the commitment of the sponsor, Akuluno Duru Mike Ejiogu (Onowu of Igboland), to empower Imo youths beyond Okigwe zone through entreprenurship, functional skills acquisition, capacity building, sports development, and other socio-economic empowernment initiatives like the now ongoing football tournament.

According to the football tournament COC Chairman, Ben Duru: the first position takes home the sum of N8 Million;  second position, N5 Million; third position, N3 Million, while the 4th to 12th positions will receive consolation prizes of Four Hundred Thousand Naira, respectively.

Engr. Henry Iwuanyanwu FNSE— General Manager of Chevron Football Club, Lekki, Lagos State, an offshoot of Chevron-Soccer Consulting Services Ltd, assured that the best talents among the young footballers who fall within the specified age brackets, at the end of the tournament, would get call ups for trials in Nigerian football clubs and also stand  better chances of traveling overseas for further international trials, sporting opportunities, and expositions.

An Mbano born public analyst and event moderator, Duru Evan (El- Doctore), while speaking during the football competition, maintained that High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu has continued to change the narrative in people-driven leadership and youth engagement. Commending him for the bold football initiative and sponsorship of the ongoing tournament in  which he donated the sum of N25M for the participating teams drawn from all the communities across the six LGAs in the Imo North Senatorial District (Okigwe zone).

Remarkably, the mind blowing N25M  Mike Ejiogu Okigwe Zonal  Unity Cup has inspired leadership, reawakened consciousness on talent discovery, and  ignited passion among the youths as most of them have dusted their football kits and gone back to the field for trials.

High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu (Onowu of Igboland), whose name is synonymous with entreprenurship, selfless public service, philanthropy, and community development, is also raising the bar on talent discovery and youth empowernment.

This football edition, no doubt, will give him another opportunity not just to empower the youths but also bring them together with a renewed hope and new direction, inspiring leadership through his time-tested successful lifestyle as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader.

It was a colourful event, which had in attendance the Chairman of Ihitte Uboma Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Rev. Jude Uwalaka (Ihi lll of Umuihi Ancient Kingdom), HRH Eze Wifford Mbagwu (Abu ll of Abueke), HRH Eze Marcel Iheme (Egwu Nte lll of Umuezegwu), members of Chief Ejiogu Grassroots Transformation Group led by Rt. Hon. Mrs. Nkeiruka Nwosu, LGA coordinators of Mike Ejiogu Grassroots Movement, Hon. Dim Bennett Duru Onyedikachi, Chief Evang. Achiever Onyelike Darlington, Chairman of Flames Real Estate Enterprises Ltd, Ichie Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, Hon. Austin Ubani, Chief Nwora Amadi, among other guests and numerous football spectators.