Stakeholders emphasized the unifying power of sport in advancing peace and national development during a youth mini-tournament in Abuja on Monday. The event, held to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, was organized by the Playing for Peace and Empowerment Initiative (PP&EI) under the theme 'Sports: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers'. Dr Osamwonyi Omazuwa, PP&EI Country Director, described sport as a tool for physical fitness, mental resilience and character building. He urged young athletes to see sport as more than competition, highlighting its role in fostering unity beyond ethnicity and religion. Dr Chris Achem, Team Lead of the tournament, said the initiative promotes peace through mentorship, life skills training and holistic development. The programme supports spiritual, mental and social growth while identifying talents for professional opportunities. Eight teams competed, with Jibril FC defeating Tribal FC 2–1 in the final. Jibril FC received N40,000, Tribal FC got N25,000 as runners-up, and Young Planner FC took home N15,000 for third place. Jibril FC captain Anthony Pabo expressed pride in the team's effort. Head Coach Yusuf Abdullatif called for increased support for grassroots footballers to help them achieve global recognition.
Yusuf Abdullatif's call for support of grassroots footballers hits hard when prize money for a winning team is just N40,000. Talent is being spotted, but recognition without investment changes little for young athletes. For Nigerian youth, sport may build character, but it won't build careers without concrete backing. The real test is whether initiatives like PP&EI can attract sustained funding, not just annual applause.
