Published By Olukayode Idowu
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has promised continue sponsorship of sporting activities in Nigeria’s North East to allow for promotion of peace in the troubled region.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of sports competition and games master’s workshop for IDPs at the El-Kanemi Warriors Sports Centre in Maiduguri, the Managing Director of the Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali said NEDC will continue to promote sporting activities among displaced persons to ensure peace in insurgency ravaged communities.
Alkali while explaining that the competition was organised to engage the youths in sporting events and to discover talents at the grassroot level, promised to replicate the competition across all the states in the North East region to foster unity and peaceful coexistence.
He said: “The sporting competition is to encourage our youths and engage them in meaningful activities as they plan to return to their respective communities and to promote sporting activities, we have also had training workshops for coaches.”
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Isa Hussaini assured of sustained partnership with NEDC in sports development.
He congratulated all the teams for their active participation, stressing that there was no loser in the competition.
A total of ten clubs from ten local government areas of Borno State participated with Team Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) emerging the winner of the Peace Cup competition after defeating Kukawa football club on 4-3 penalty. Highpoint of the event was the presentation of trophies and medals by the representative of Borno state Governor, the Managing Director NEDC and other management staff of the Commission to the winning teams.