By Muhyideen Jimoh

Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, a media entrepreneur and politician, has called for the use of sports to promote unity, peace and development in Nigeria.

Benjamins-Laniyi made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing on the sidelines of the inaugural Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi (ABL) FCT unity football championship.

She said the football competition, with participation of the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was meant to foster unity and discover grassroot talents for the national teams.

“We are here to make a statement that we can achieve unity through sports and build a new prosperous nation.

“This initiative, the Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi sports tournament is an expression of premium sports for unity and indeed propelling our Nigerian youth through grassroots representation in the six area councils of the FCT,” she said.

The CEO of Doxa Group, said she would continue to work with the the FCT sports council and other relevant stakeholders to promote sports and empower Nigerian youths

“I rise as a mother, a media entrepreneur, a politician, as a patriot to make a call for unity through sports.

“What makes a nation stand is unity, so we should rise above tribe, religion and race,” she said.

Earlier, Luka Istifanus, Director, FCT Sports Council, thanked the organiser of the competition for the laudable initiative.

He said the FCT was committed to grassroots sports development and improving it’s participation in major competitions such as the National Sports Festival (NSF) and National Youth Games (NYG).

NAN reports that over 80 teams and 1,200 players from the six FCT area councils have been slugging it at the ABL championship, which is now in the quarter-finals stage.

The grand-finale of the competition is slated for Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. (NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola