Abuja: Some sports enthusiasts have emphasised the importance of youth empowerment and social cohesion in achieving lasting peace in the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the enthusiasts made the call in Abuja at the closing of the 2nd edition of the National Peace Olympics (NPO) 2025, stating that the initiative would promote understanding, tolerance, and economic development. The NPO 2025, themed ‘Propelling Sportsmanship and Talents for a Better Society,’ was organised by a coalition of partners, including the Elite Lawyers Association, BarristerCEO Group, and Ufuk Dialogue Foundation. Other partners included the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Bergview Villa Construction, Void Media Group, Da Ace Cribs, and Bulba Sports.
Speaking at the event, Sen. Ita Enang, Former Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, commended the organisers and participants for their efforts in developing human capacity and promoting peace through sports. He highlighted the significance of bringing youths from various religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds together to share ideas on building Nigeria and global peace. Enang also expressed a desire for the competition to extend to local and rural areas, emphasizing that those affected by terrorism and insecurity could greatly benefit.
Mr. Abba Gana, a staff member of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Cooperation (NDIC), welcomed the NPO’s initiative to reinforce peace, social cohesion, and tolerance. He underscored the importance of such values amidst current challenges, suggesting that they would help youths adopt peace-promoting attitudes and coexist harmoniously.
Dr. Gift Namoko-Orairu, CEO of Bergview Villas Construction Limited, praised the NPO as a positive gesture towards peace, advocating for more programs that unite young people and emphasize the need for peaceful coexistence. Mr. Fayzullah Bilgin, Managing Director of NTIC schools, stressed that peace, understanding, love, and tolerance were crucial for the country’s development, asserting that sports events like the NPO could foster these values.
Mr. Emrah Ilgen, President of Ufuk Dialogue Foundation, spoke about the collaboration to promote peace, emphasizing the importance of teaching love and tolerance at the grassroots level. Mr. Solomon Ita-Enang, Group Managing Director of BarristerCEO Group and President of Elite Lawyer Association, explained that the NPO was organized to encourage peace and unity among youths and expressed intentions to continue the event annually.
The NPO featured seven categories of sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, chess, badminton, and one other. Notably, the Public Complaints Commission (PPC) Football Club won the football category, with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Football Club and Deposit Football Club finishing as runner-up and third place, respectively. In volleyball, Legend Spikers claimed the top prize, followed by White Spikers and All Stars Spikers in second and third place.
