Stakeholders urge use of sports to promote national peace, youth development
By Angela Atabo
Stakeholders in the sports sector have called for the use of sports to promote national peace and youth development.
The stakeholders made the call at the 2nd Edition of the National Peace Olympics (NPO) 2025 with the theme: “Propelling Sportsmanship and Talents for a Better Society” in Abuja.
The stakeholders include: Barrister CEO Group, Ufuk Dialogue Foundation, Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), The Elite Lawyers Association, Bergview Villa Construction and Void Media Group.
A House of Representatives Member, Usman Zannah, representing Maigumeri, Gubio, Kaga Federal Constituency, Borno, stressed the power of sports in promoting peace and engaging youths.
Zannah said sports had the power to unite, inspire and drive people towards excellence.
“As we celebrate the achievement of our athletes, we also recognise the importance of supporting our sports to progress.
“I pledge the sum of one million naira to support sports development in our community.
“This contribution will help to promote athletic talents, enhance sports infrastructure and encourage future generation athletes. Let us work together to build a brighter future for sports in our communities,’’ he said.
According to the Founder and President of Elite Lawyers Association, Solomon Enang, the National Peace Olympics is a charity tournament aimed at bringing youths together, promoting peace, unity and harmony across the country.
Enang, who is also the Managing Director of the Barrister CEO Group, said stakeholders were brought together to emphasise the importance of peace and to give youths a sense of belonging.
“This is the second edition of the National Peace Olympics, it is a periodic event organised to bring youths and citizenry of Nigeria together to promote a sense of youthful interactions, youthful agreements and peace and harmony.
“Sport is an integral part of every society, there is hardly a society that thrives without sports because it brings joy and brings a lot of people together.
“Sports to some extent can even solve a lot of wars and arguments among the citizenry.”
Enang urged the government to promote sports, not just the common ones, so as to empower more youths and get them engaged and also give them a sense of livelihood.
Dr Gift Namoko-Orairu, CEO of Bergview Villas Construction Limited, said the firm supported the sports event, preached peace and also drew the attention of Nigerians to investment opportunities.
“We are here to mingle and encourage people to invest in properties. Peace is something we cannot overemphasise; without peace no community stands or strives into prosperity.
“It is high time we began to look inward into creating opportunities for ourselves too as our environment is becoming more peaceful every day,” she said
Mr Abdulsalam Mohammed, the vice president of Ufuk Dialogue Foundation, said the foundation believed that while using sports to preach peace, it would bring people together.
Mohammed said this was imperative, especially for a country like Nigeria with its unique diversity, multi-ethnic groups and different religious backgrounds.
“This event brought people together to preach the message of oneness; we believe that we are all from the same descendant, from the same father in spite of religious differences, so we have to give each other respect.”
Isah Halilu, Media Representative, Void Media Group, said the spirit of sportsmanship brings unity and so it should be encouraged.
Halilu said, “Government should pump money into sports, organise it well and make it really good to harness and build the talents of youths because Nigeria has a lot of potential and talents.
Mr Fahad Sambo, the Captain of Deposit Football Club, said he was happy to participate in the tournament, adding that it was an avenue to call for peace.
Sambo said; “I am glad to be part of this, I am also glad my team won. However, this is also an opportunity to call for an end to the insecurity across the country.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams
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