Mulade rolls out plan for 2022 Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament
…inaugurates 15-man planning committee
By Yeigagha Solomon & Faith Madogwe
Niger Delta-born environmental activist and Founder, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, rolled out plan for this year’s Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament created to promote peaceful co-existence among residents of the three Warri Local Government Areas in Delta State.
This year’s event is billed to commence November 16 to December 3, 2022, in Ugborodo and Benikrukru communities’ football fields, Warri South West Local Government.
Speaking at the unveiling/inauguration ceremony held at the CEPEJ’s Africa for Peace Centre in Ugolo, near Osubi, Mulade explained that this year’s event, the third in the series, will have Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, as Chairman of the 15-Man Planning Committee; Navy Commodore Kingdom Itoko (rtd), Secretary; Mr. Matthew Itsekure, PRO; Mr. Victor Tonlagha, Director of Finance; Omoboye Abosode, Director of Welfare; Mr. Azuka Chiemeka, Director of Media; Amb. City Ojouworo, Director of Mobilization; Hon. Raymond Pirah, Director of Security.
Other members of the committee inaugurated by the foremost environmentalist includes: Dr. Jeffrey Wilikie, Assistant Director of Finance; Mr. Philemon Ugedi, Asst. Director of Security; Mr. Bright Tortor, Director of Mobilization-Benikrukru; Hon. Aboyewa Ikpotor, Director of Transport/Logistics; Hon. Bethus Ayetan, Asst. Director of Transport/Logistics; Mr. Wilson Ejeh, Director of Mobilization-Ugborodo and Hon. Paul Kirifede, Organising Secretary.
Mulade used the opportunity provided by the inauguration to clarify that the tournament is not for the Ijaws and Itsekiris alone, but opened to all the residents of the three local governments in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South.
He stressed that the programme has been placed to promote peace and to foster unity among the ethnic groups within Warri, Delta state.
In his words: “This program was first organized within the Warri South West Local Government Area. From the last edition, we said we’re going to cover the three Warri local government areas in Warri, that’s why we have representatives in this committee from Warri South West, Warri North, and Warri South. This same thing is applicable to the teams. The teams will be drawn from these three local government areas, Sixteen teams will be drawn from these areas to form the tournament. So, I will plead with all of us to put in the best.
“The tournament is not restricted to Ijaw and Itsekiri alone, last time, the Ilajes were also part of the tournament, and this time, we are including them. But the name remains Ijaw/Itsekiri Unity Cup. So other ethnic groups within the local governments can also participate. The essence is to promote peace and to foster unity among the Ijaw and Itsekiri and other ethnic groups,” he stated.
Responding on behalf of the committee members, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha commended Mulade for the initiative and efforts in the previous year, he therefore urged members of the committee to put in their best when carrying out their duties.
“I want to thank those of us that participated in last edition, you did well but before you can be given 100% by a teacher, you have to be extremely sound, I want to appeal to all of us to give our best in various positions, we need to give our best in order not to disappoint the person who deem it fit to bring us into this competition,” he added.
On his part, Mr. Matthew Itsekure, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the newly inaugurated committee for the tournament while giving the vote of thanks, promised that the newly constituted committee will do everything within their reach to deliver a quality job.
See photos below:
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