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Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup kicks off in Abuja
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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on football administrators across the country to intensify efforts in discovering and nurturing young talents at the grassroots level, describing it as the foundation for restoring Nigeria’s lost glory in football.
Akpabio made the call on Sunday during the official kickoff of the second edition of the 10th Senate President’s Under-18 Unity Cup at the Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja.
Represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, the Senate President said modalities would be put in place to institutionalise the Unity Cup as an annual national tournament aimed at scouting and grooming young footballers for both local and international competitions.
“With these young men showcasing their talents, this is the future of Nigeria, and there is no way you can grow sports if we don’t go to the grassroots,” Akpabio said. “In times past, the likes of the late Stephen Keshi, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, and Tijani Babangida, who brought glory to Nigeria, were discovered in tournaments like this.”
He commended the Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF) for organising the event and reiterated the Senate’s commitment to promoting youth development through sports.
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“I have seen tremendous signal from President Bola Tinubu in putting sports on the front burner. Sports administrators must key into this opportunity the President has shown in the last two years, it should not be business as usual,” Akpabio added.
The Senate President emphasised that sustainable investment in youth sports is critical to both national unity and development, assuring that his office would continue to support initiatives that provide young Nigerians with platforms to excel.
In his welcome remarks, the tournament’s coordinator, Hon. John Bassey Ekpenyong, commended Senator Akpabio for recognising the importance of grassroots tournaments to youth empowerment and sports growth.
“This initiative provides a pedestal for teenagers to nurture their football careers. Ensuring that this becomes a yearly event will promote unity, sportsmanship, and national development,” Ekpenyong said.
The 2025 edition of the Unity Cup features 21 teams — 16 male and 5 female — from different parts of the country. The opening match saw Jaguar Football Club of Abia State defeat Amahus Football Club of Yobe by one goal to nil.
The competition continues this week at the Old Parade Ground, with teams battling for honours in what organisers describe as a “breeding ground for the next generation of Nigerian football stars.”
