Governor Otu increased the club’s monthly subvention from ₦5 million to ₦15 million, cleared outstanding financial obligations
By Frank Ulom
·
Published on July 26, 2026
·
2 min read
The Cross River State Government has attributed the resurgence of state-owned women’s football club, Pelican Stars FC, to sustained investment in players’ welfare and improved funding, following the club’s promotion to the Nigeria Women’s Premier Football League (NWFL).
Chairman of the club, Mrs Sofia Francis Aribiah, said the team’s return to the top flight was made possible by the support of Governor Bassey Otu and the welfare initiatives championed by the First Lady, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu.
Speaking on HIT FM in Calabar on Saturday, Aribiah said the administration’s commitment to the club had significantly boosted the morale, motivation and performance of the players.
She disclosed that shortly after assuming office, Governor Otu increased the club’s monthly subvention from ₦5 million to ₦15 million, cleared outstanding financial obligations and ensured the regular payment of players’ salaries and match allowances.
According to her, the improved funding created a more stable environment for the team and enabled the players to focus on achieving success on the pitch.
Aribiah also praised the First Lady for complementing the government’s efforts through her personal interest in the welfare of the players.
She said Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu maintains regular contact with the club’s management and provides each player with a monthly bag of rice and other food items to support their wellbeing.
“The governor’s support and the First Lady’s motherly care have inspired the players to give their best,” Aribiah said.
The club chairman, a former banker, described the promotion as a major achievement, noting that it was recorded barely six months after she assumed office.
“I am delighted that within six months, my team and I have witnessed the promotion of Pelican Stars back to the top-flight league,” she added.
Aribiah pledged that the club’s management would build on the achievement by strengthening the squad and implementing measures that would enable Pelican Stars to remain competitive in the Nigeria Women’s Premier Football League.
Pelican Stars, one of Nigeria’s most successful women’s football clubs, secured promotion after spending one season in the lower division, returning to the country’s top-flight women’s league.
The promotion is seen as a significant milestone in the Cross River State Government’s efforts to revitalise women’s football and restore the club to its status as one of Nigeria’s leading teams.
