The Osun State Government in Osogbo, Osun State, warned residents and members of the public against a fraudulent website falsely presenting itself as the official Osun Sports Trust Fund, saying the platform was neither owned nor authorised by the state government.

The warning comes as the state’s proposed sports financing initiative has gained renewed attention following recent plans by Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to expand youth and sports development programmes in Osun.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Osun State Government specifically identified osunsportstrustfund.com as the unauthorised platform and urged the public not to rely on information published there.

The government said people should also avoid responding to fundraising appeals, partnership requests or transaction demands originating from the website.

“The Osun State Government wishes to alert members of the public that the website circulating as the ‘Osun State Sports Trust Fund’ is fraudulent and is not owned, authorised or operated by the Osun State Government,” the statement said.

It added that members of the public should “disregard any information, requests, fundraising appeals or transactions emanating from the said platform”.

The warning is particularly significant because the Osun Government has genuinely been developing plans for a Sports Trust Fund, creating an opportunity for an unauthorised platform to appear credible to unsuspecting members of the public.

In February 2025, Governor Ademola Adeleke announced that his administration was finalising the legal framework for a Sports Commission and a Sports Trust Fund designed to provide sustainable financing for sports development.

The announcement formed part of a broader sports reform programme that included the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Osogbo Township Stadium.

The government said the facility was being repositioned to meet international standards and potentially accommodate major national and international sporting events.

The initiative later moved into another phase in October 2025 when David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, was appointed chairman of the Osun Sports Trust Fund.

Osun Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Sports, Kola Adewusi, said at the time that the fund was intended to attract support from sports philanthropists within and outside the state and establish a more sustainable financing model for sports.

The appointment also brought considerable public attention because of Davido’s international profile and his family relationship with Governor Adeleke.

Independent fact-checking later confirmed that David Adeleke is the governor’s nephew.

More recently, Davido said after Governor Adeleke’s re-election in August that he was ready to intensify his involvement in youth development.

As chairman of the Trust Fund, David Adeleke said he had deliberately waited until after the election before pursuing several initiatives, including a proposed recreational centre featuring football, swimming and basketball facilities. He also outlined plans for music and entertainment programmes aimed at creating opportunities for young people.

“As chairman of the Sports Trust Fund, I want to do a lot of things but waited for the election to be over,” David Adeleke said.

The development gives the government’s latest warning an important context.

The Sports Trust Fund is a real government-backed initiative, but the website identified by the state as fraudulent should not be confused with the official programme.

The disputed website currently presents itself as the Osun State Sports Trust Fund and advertises opportunities involving sports development, partnerships and financial contributions.

Its online presentation includes references to the Osun Ministry of Youth and Sports and displays a proposed investment target.

Those claims make the state’s warning especially important because the platform could appear legitimate to people familiar with the government’s previously announced plans.

The government has not said in its warning whether anyone has already lost money through the website or whether an investigation has identified the individuals behind it.

For now, the safest course for prospective donors, sponsors, athletes and members of the public is to verify any Sports Trust Fund announcement directly through recognised Osun State Government channels before making payments or submitting personal or financial information.

The episode also highlights a growing challenge for public institutions.

As government programmes increasingly use digital platforms to communicate with citizens and attract investment, fraudulent websites can exploit the credibility of genuine initiatives by reproducing official names, government references and development plans.

For Osun, the immediate priority is therefore not only protecting members of the public from potential financial loss but also preserving confidence in a sports financing initiative that the state has spent more than a year developing.

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With the government continuing its sports reform agenda and Davido recently announcing plans aimed at expanding opportunities for young people, the distinction between the legitimate Osun Sports Trust Fund and the fraudulent platform is now more important than ever.