Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong successfully garnered more than N47 million through auction sales during the Troost-Ekong Foundation Fundraising Gala held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The vibrant event seamlessly blended sports, entertainment, and philanthropy, drawing notable personalities including Adeboye Adeyinka (Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports to President Bola Tinubu), Shehu Dikko (Chairman of the National Sports Commission), NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen, and football legends Joseph Yobo and Brown Ideye.
Celebrities such as Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Bovi, Funny Bone, Pencil, and Gilmore also attended.
A highlight of the night was the auction, featuring memorabilia and art pieces that sparked spirited bidding.
The top lot, a signed Nigeria All-Stars jersey from the June 2024 international window, was sold to NSC chairman Shehu Dikko for N27 million.
Other standout sales included a Bukayo Saka signed Arsenal jersey, purchased by comedian Funny Bone for N5.4 million; a Declan Rice jersey acquired by the Atom Foundation for N10 million; and a signed sparring glove from Anthony Joshua, bought by former Big Brother Naija housemate Phyna for N2.5 million.
Troost-Ekong announced that the funds raised would support youth empowerment through initiatives in sports, education, and skills development.
These include Camp NexGen a STEM and sports training program launching later this year and a grassroots Under-15 football tournament in Akwa Ibom.
In his remarks, Troost-Ekong reflected on the foundation’s achievements since its launch in June 2024, highlighting efforts such as distributing over 15,000 notebooks to schools, upgrading orphanage facilities, and supporting emerging music talents through outreach programs.
He also noted a recent charity football match that generated N10 million in ticket sales and attracted 15,000 online viewers.
The gala also featured an official partnership announcement with Idaraya Otu’s Let Girls Read, Run, Grow foundation.
Otu described Camp NexGen as a transformative three-day program where 150 children will build and fly drones, code video games, and pitch business ideas preparing the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
With nearly N60 million raised through the match and auction combined, the Troost-Ekong Foundation is set to deepen its impact on education, sports, and innovation.
“The Troost-Ekong Foundation is more than a charity. It is a movement,” Troost-Ekong said. “Together, we can unlock talent, ignite innovation, and create new pathways to success.”
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