The Bet9ja Foundation made charity the true champion at the Bet9ja Football Carnival’s 5-A-Side Celebrity Tournament, held on July 13, 2025, at The Fidelity Ground, Oniru, Lagos.

This electrifying event blended the excitement of sport with a powerful commitment to social impact, donating ₦2 million to four charity organizations through a unique charity-nomination initiative.

For the first time, four celebrity-led teams, captained by social influencers Yhemo Lee, Shank, Sheggz, and Charles Okocha, competed on behalf of charity organisations aligned with the Foundation’s values of inclusion, education, and community support

In a thrilling display of sport and philanthropy, the 5-A-Side Celebrity Tournament saw the four celebrity-led teams compete for impactful causes, raising ₦2 million for charity.

Yhemo Lee FC clinched first place, securing ₦1 million for the Festus Fajemilo Foundation to advance youth empowerment, education, and healthcare access. Shank FC took second, earning ₦500,000 for the Morainbow Down Syndrome Foundation to promote awareness and support for families living with Down Syndrome.

Sheggz FC, in third, won ₦250,000 for the Bethesda School for the Blind to provide inclusive education and rehabilitation for the visually impaired, while Charles Okocha FC, in fourth, also secured ₦250,000 for the Givers Supportive Foundation to aid medical outreach and social welfare for vulnerable populations.

The event was elevated by thrilling performances from top Nigerian artists Bella Shmurda, BNXN, and CDQ. Notable appearances by football legend Victor Ikpeba and popular influencers Smallie, Husband Material, and Kante, who added star power and excitement to the event.

In addition to the charitable donations, the Bet9ja Foundation spread joy among attendees by awarding ₦200,000 in raffle prizes to lucky fans, fostering a festive atmosphere of community engagement.

“At Bet9ja Foundation, we believe in transforming moments of joy into vehicles for change,” said Omotola Oronti, Manager, Marketing & Communications, Bet9ja Foundation. “Through this initiative, we gave our celebrity teams a purpose beyond the pitch and turned entertainment into empowerment. Each charity represented here reflects our vision of building stronger communities through inclusion, education, and support for the underserved.”

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Cheque presentations were made onsite with representatives from each charity in attendance, reinforcing the Foundation’s mission to drive real-time, meaningful impact through sport.

To learn more about how we are betting on communities and transforming lives, one initiative at a time, visit www.bet9jafoundation.org.

About Bet9ja Foundation

Founded in 2023, the Bet9ja Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Bet9ja, Nigeria’s leading online bookmaker. The Foundation is dedicated to tackling critical challenges in healthcare, education, sports development, community building, and youth empowerment across Nigeria.

Through strategic partnerships, grassroots initiatives, and innovative solutions, it delivers impact-driven programs that meet the diverse needs of communities. Its mission is to create lasting change by providing access to quality healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. From scholarships to social welfare projects, Bet9ja Foundation is committed to transforming lives.

Media Contact

Omotola Oronti

Manager,Marketing & Communications

o.oronti@bet9jafoundation.org

bet9jafoundation.org

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#FeatureByBet9ja

Did you know that there’s an airport with graves on its runway? Yes, actual graves that contain human remains and this airport is still active with the runway being used by thousands of travelers regularly.

This might sound weird or even diabolical to some, but this is the situation at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia, USA which has two graves embedded directly into the runway.

The story behind the graves at the airport runway is quite interesting. This airport currently sits on what was once the Dotson family farm.

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In the 1940s, during World War II, the U.S. government began expanding the airfield, and that meant taking over nearby land including a small private cemetery that belonged to the Dotson family.

Most of the graves in the family plot were moved to make way for the new runway. But when it came to the final resting places of Richard and Catherine Dotson who were the original owners of the land, their descendants made a heartfelt request.

They wanted their remains left where they were. They believed the couple should remain on the land they had owned and worked, even if that land was about to become part of a military airstrip.

Fortunately for the Dotson descendants, their request was granted and the graves weren’t moved. Instead, they were carefully paved into the edge of what would become Runway 10.

Today, pilots and airport staff can still spot the headstones, two granite slabs lying flush with the tarmac, inscribed with the names and dates of the people buried beneath.

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They don’t interfere with operations, but they are unmistakably present, a quiet reminder of the land’s history before jets and terminals took over.

For many, it’s an eerie yet beautiful symbol of respect for the dead amid the unstoppable push of progress.

Travelers landing at or taking off from Savannah might have no idea that just beneath the tires of their plane lie the resting places of a husband and wife who never left their land in death, even though it’s now an airport.

One thing is certain though, a part of them still remains on the land and it is one way they would be remembered for a very long time. 

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In 2025, lecturer salaries combine a basic salary scale with allowances for housing, transport and research. Federal, state and private institutions each apply slightly different structures, and periodic inflation adjustments have struggled to keep pace with living costs.

Supplemental grants, consultancy stipends and overtime payments can boost take-home pay, but not all academics access these extras equally.

Understanding the full breakdown of earnings, from graduate assistants to full professors, helps academic staff and aspiring lecturers negotiate better terms and plan long-term.

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1. Graduate Assistant

Lecturers at Grade Level 07 receive a basic monthly salary of ₦120,000 to ₦150,000. Housing and transport allowances of ₦50,000 to ₦70,000 raise total earnings into the ₦170,000–₦220,000 range.

Many graduate assistants supplement income through tutorial stipends of ₦10,000 per session and part-time research support roles.

2. Lecturer II

At Grade Level 08, basic pay increases to ₦150,000–₦200,000. Combined with housing allowance (₦60,000), transport allowance (₦40,000) and occasional overtime takings, monthly income typically falls between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000. In some institutions a teaching allowance of ₦20,000 further boosts earnings.

3. Lecturer I

Grade Level 09 academics draw a basic salary of ₦200,000–₦250,000. With housing (₦70,000), transport (₦50,000) and a standard research grant (₦30,000), total monthly earnings range from ₦350,000 to ₦400,000. Consultancy fees and seminar facilitation can add another ₦30,000–₦50,000 per month.

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4. Senior Lecturer

On the Consolidated Academic Salary Scale, senior lecturers receive ₦300,000–₦350,000 basic pay. Allowances for housing (₦100,000), transport (₦70,000) and research or skills upgrade (₦50,000) push monthly income to ₦520,000–₦570,000.

Eligibility for external speaking engagements and project supervision stipends can add ₦100,000 or more.

5. Professor

Full professors on the top tier draw a basic salary of ₦500,000–₦600,000. With enhanced allowances, housing (₦150,000), transport (₦100,000), research (₦100,000) and editorial stipends, monthly take-home can reach ₦850,000, ₦950,000.

Many professors augment this with grants, consultancy contracts and royalties that collectively may exceed ₦1,000,000 each month.

Actual compensation varies by institution type, departmental budget and availability of supplementary grants. As inflation pressures persist, continuous review of academic salary structures and equitable access to allowances remain critical to retaining Nigeria’s brightest teaching talent.

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