A soccer and marathon race championship designed to promote peace in the South of Kaduna State has begun in Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championship is organised by the Kafanchan Municipal Authority and involved the eight local government areas that make up Southern Kaduna.
Declaring the games open, Mrs Phoebe Yayi, Administrator and Commissioner of the Municipal Authority, said the competition was borne out of the need to engage the youths as tools for promoting peace through sports.
The Administrator and Commissioner title for heads of Municipal Areas of Kaduna was introduced by the Gov. Nasir el-Rufai in 2021 in Zaria, Kaduna and Kafanchan.
“Football, and indeed sports generally knows no religion, knows no ethnic background, and knows no colour but brings unity and togetherness.
“When we play football, we find ourselves shaking hands, hugging and laughing with one another in the spirit of the game.
“The youths have always expressed a desire to be part of the peacebuilding process in this zone, and what better way to get them onboard than through sports,” she said.
According to her, the youths have a lot of time on their hands that, if not properly utilised in productive activities could see them engaging in social vices.
“The youths have lots of time on their hands, but are not meaningfully engaged, and because of the time they have too much on their hands, they tend to resort to social vices.
“And that is why we have thought it wise to come up with initiative like this which the youths themselves are enthusiastic about.
“We are confident that this will mark the beginning of our long journey to eternal peace in this place,” she stated.
Yayi said the Municipal Authority had concluded arrangements to engage the youths in skills acquisition, and other activities in a bid to keep them off social vices.
She maintained that the state government was keen on bringing development to Southern Kaduna, but can only do so in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
“The Kaduna State Government wants to bring development to this part of the state, but once there is no peace, there is no way that development can see the light of the day.
“We are not just searching for peace for the sake of it, but because we want to develop our land and move forward,” she said.
She also disclosed plans to make the championship an annual event geared towards achieving sustainable peace in the area.
NAN reports that the championship, which will run until May 21, saw the host Local Government Area, Jema’a beat their Kachia counterpart 2:1 in the opening game. (NAN)
