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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
More than 500 young persons between 15 and 17 would be brought together for the maiden edition of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and St. Eve Football Tournament, which will begin om August 20, 2023, across 20 local government areas in Lagos State.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo and St. Eve initiated the soccer tourney to demonstrate first-hand the power of football in creating unity, fostering understanding and promoting acceptance of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Speaking at a press briefing heralding the tournament, president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State chapter, Chief Sunday Ossai, said the championship aimed to build on the power of sports as a tool for peace among Nigerians.
Ossai emphasized the need to develop grassroots football to improve the fortunes of Nigerian football. He said: “While growing up, we had street football tournaments where each street played football and we held competitions among ourselves and that increased the bond because there was no ethnic bigotry.
“Football has been identified as a veritable tool that promotes the peace, unity, and development of a people, irrespective of their tribe, religion, region or ethnicity, at the grassroots.
“Also, there was nothing like crime as it was part of the effort to strengthen the life skills of the youths and equally divert their attention from social vices, like what we have today where youths are involved in crime.”
He added that football makes people understand what unity, peace and development are about, adding that it would also help to alleviate poverty and create avenues for employment for youths. He further stated that, with this type of initiative, Nigerians can remain united and achieve their goals as one nation.
Ossai stated that there were other projects the group has enlisted to embarked upon but the tournament precedes others because it is a platform to empower youths.
He said: “We want to use it as a catalyst for reconciliation, not just a sporting activity. It is equally the best vehicle to extract the best potential from our youth, especially those with prowess in football and for those with diverse skills; we encourage you to be part of this tournament.
“Our advocacy outreach is extended to sports with the goal of engaging citizens, particularly the youths. Sports, particularly the football game, is a major driver of unity in Nigeria, and today we are leveraging on this tournament to bring unity and sustainable peace amongst the youths of this country.
“Our goal is to equally foster unity between the government and our people. This noble aspiration guides the endeavours of the project, led by Azubuike Eweremadu.
“Our mission is clear, to enlighten our community and raise awareness about the significance of their contributions to national unity. We seek to bridge the gap between the people and the government.
“This football league encompassing 20 local government areas is not just a sport event but a manifestation of our commitment to promote community engagement and harmony.”
The sponsor of the soccer tourney, Hon. Paul Onuora, said football remained a tool for engaging and shaping youths into having blissful careers. He said he decided to support talented youths who could play football but were relegated and unrecognized: “If we are able to discover new talents and market them to the world, they would not give you back the money but society benefits from it. Developing football culture helps to discover new talents.
“Most of Nigeria’s superstars were discovered on the streets. Emmanuel Amuneke is my friend and I know his grass-to-grace story. Soccer has become necessary as it would prevent crime and divert the attention of youths from drugs peddling and other crimes.
“The older generation has neglected the youths. They should use their resources to better the lots of the youths and society.
“The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people.”
Managing director of St Eve Limited, Evelyn Okereke, said “we are targeted at the development of teens between 15 and 17, who are talented and skillful.”
Okereke noted that the tournament is aimed at equipping them with the core values, knowledge and skills needed to realize their full potential as leaders of the next generation. According to him, the event is also designed to productively engage these children and steer them away from crime, substance abuse and other social vices.
