The Osun State Government has warned residents and members of the public against a website being circulated as the “Osun State Sports Trust Fund,” saying the platform is not owned, authorised or operated by the state government.
The government issued the warning on Tuesday after the website, osunsportstrustfund.com, began presenting itself as an official state-backed sports initiative and inviting members of the public to participate in funding and partnership opportunities.
In a statement, the Osun State Government advised residents to disregard any information published on the platform and avoid responding to requests, fundraising appeals or transaction instructions originating from the website.
The warning is significant because the state government has previously announced plans to establish an official Sports Trust Fund as part of its efforts to create a sustainable funding structure for sports development.
Governor Ademola Adeleke announced in February 2025 that his administration was working towards establishing a Sports Commission and Sports Trust Fund. The initiative was intended to support sports infrastructure, athletes and long-term development of the sector.
In October 2025, the state government announced the appointment of Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as chairman of the proposed Osun Sports Trust Fund. The government said the fund was expected to attract support from sports philanthropists within and outside Nigeria.
The existence of the proposed government initiative appears to have created an opportunity for the unauthorised website to present itself as an official platform.
The website currently describes itself as the Osun State Sports Trust Fund and advertises opportunities relating to athletes, sports facilities, scholarships and investment. It also displays the Osun State Ministry of Youth and Sports as its purported office location.
However, the state government has specifically stated that the website is not authorised by the government.
Residents have therefore been advised not to make payments, submit personal information or respond to financial requests through the platform unless they have independently confirmed the information through recognised official government channels.
The development is not the first time websites and online messages have been used to falsely associate financial programmes with the Osun State Government. Previous fact-checks have identified websites claiming to offer Osun relief funds and other financial benefits as fraudulent or potentially designed to obtain personal information.
The latest warning underscores the need for residents to verify online government programmes before providing personal or financial details, particularly where websites request payments or promise access to government-backed funds.
The government urged members of the public to remain vigilant and rely on official Osun State Government communication channels for authentic information about the Sports Trust Fund and other state programmes.
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