Fubara Rewards Real Madrid Academy With N50M After Historic UK Tour
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has rewarded student-players and coaches of the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, with fifty million naira (#50,000,000) for making the state proud during their recent football tour of the United Kingdom.
Governor Fubara announced the reward on Friday October 16, 2026 while receiving the academy’s management and students at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor commended the team for their discipline, sporting excellence and exemplary conduct throughout the tour, noting that they returned victorious without any incident of misconduct or embarrassment to the state, despite the challenges encountered during the trip. He explained that the academy, established by his predecessor, was designed to nurture young football talents and provide them with opportunities to build successful careers in the sport.
According to Fubara, the football economy has grown beyond what many people imagine, with opportunities capable of surpassing those available in conventional corporate organisations. He said the UK tour was organised to expose the students to international football and expressed delight that some of them were already attracting the attention of foreign football clubs seeking to recruit them for greater opportunities abroad.
Emphasising the importance of character development alongside sporting excellence, the Governor said his administration remained committed to equipping the students with the necessary skills and values to become responsible citizens and worthy ambassadors of Rivers State.
“What we just did here is to give you the opportunity to see what is in football beyond the walls of Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt. It is meant for you to see football at the international level.
“You have made us very proud. On our own part, we will ensure that we give you every support needed for you to excel. I am really proud of you all, not just because of the trophy that you won but your conduct throughout the tour,” Governor Fubara said.
The Governor also assured the academy that the state government would address complaints relating to inadequate facilities, insufficient accommodation and other challenges confronting the institution to ensure a conducive environment for learning and training. He thanked the local and foreign consultants who coordinated the tour and urged the students to take their academic pursuits seriously while developing their football careers.
Governor Fubara noted that the trip represented a life-changing experience for many of the students, some of whom had never travelled beyond Port Harcourt Local Government Area before the international tour.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Dagogo Wokoma, commended the governor for sponsoring the trip, describing it as a historic initiative and a pacesetter in the country.
Also speaking, the Principal of Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, Prudence Isaac-Harry, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his vision and what she described as his “unparalleled magnanimity” in sponsoring 61 student-athletes and 12 officials on the UK tour. She said the trip provided the students with their first international football exposure, adding that they demonstrated impressive skills during their matches and left a positive impression on the football community in Southampton and London.
“We were given a silver trophy for our students’ performances. Thank you, Sir, for showcasing Rivers State’s raw talents to the global stage. This landmark trip has successfully opened windows for further international tournaments, as several top-tier clubs are already extending invitations to the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt,” Isaac-Harry said.
The principal pledged that the academy’s management and students would continue to bring honour and glory to Rivers State in recognition of the state government’s investment in the institution.
