Follow Us on Google
Dangote Cement Plc has launched a grassroots football tournament in Ibese, Ogun State, and Okpella, Edo State, as part of efforts to promote youth development, peaceful coexistence and stronger relationships with its host communities.
The maiden Host Communities’ Unity Football Tournament, sponsored by the company, brings together young footballers from communities around its cement operations in Ibese, Okpella, Obajana and Gboko.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Ibese, the Plant Director, Ayyagari Subbaraidu, said the competition was designed to provide young people with opportunities to develop their talents, build friendships and engage in productive activities.
He said the initiative was a new addition to the company’s social investment programmes, which focus on education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic empowerment.
“This football tournament is a new dimension of our social investment strategy, specifically designed to promote youth development, engagement and empowerment,” Subbaraidu said.
He explained that the company recognised the importance of young people in its host communities and the need to create opportunities that would help them realise their potential.
According to him, the tournament goes beyond football, as it is also intended to strengthen relationships among neighbouring communities and build trust between the company and its host communities.
“Beyond football, the tournament is a proactive social investment initiative aimed at promoting peace, strengthening inter-community relationships, fostering unity and deepening trust between Dangote Cement and the host communities,” he said.
He added that the real success of the competition would be measured not only by the winning team but also by the friendships and understanding it creates.
“While the teams may compete for the trophy, the bigger victory lies in the unity, friendship and mutual understanding we hope to establish and build. In the spirit of this, every community is considered a winner in this tournament,” he said.
In Ibese, 17 host communities have been grouped into eight teams to compete for the trophy.
Subbaraidu said the competition would also provide an opportunity to identify promising grassroots footballers who could eventually progress to national and international levels.
“We believe that great talents can emerge from our communities and that this tournament will provide a platform for discovering and nurturing promising football talents who may eventually go on to shine on national and international stages,” he said.
He urged players, officials and supporters to maintain discipline, fairness and mutual respect throughout the competition, warning against violence and unnecessary confrontations.
At the Okpella plant, the tournament also commenced with the Plant Director, Mohammed Ismaael, describing football as a powerful tool for bringing people together regardless of their backgrounds.
“Football has a unique capacity to bring people together irrespective of community, background or social status. Through this tournament, Dangote Cement is creating a platform for our young people to interact positively, demonstrate their talents and build friendships that transcend community boundaries,” he said.
He said the competition was more than a sporting event, describing it as an investment in young people, peaceful coexistence and the company’s long-term relationship with its host communities.
“For us at Okpella, this is not simply a football competition; it is an investment in our youth, peaceful coexistence and the long-term partnership we cherish with our host communities,” Ismaael added.
The simultaneous launch of the competitions in Ibese and Okpella marks an expansion of Dangote Cement’s community engagement efforts, with the company using sports to complement its existing social investment programmes.
