A unifying Foundation, Adedayo Benjamins Laniyi Foundation, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration has urged youths in the territory to use sports to promote national unity.
The founder of Adedayo Laniyi Foundation, Adebayo Laniyi, made the call in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital during a press briefing to announce the debut of FCT youth sports competition. She said sports remains the best way to provoke unity and peace in all the Six Area Councils of the FCT that make up the Federal Capital Territory and beyond.
According to her, sporting activities cement relationships within and outside one’s immediate environment. Laniyi said mobilising the young people across communities for the FCT football tournament was tough for her, but she carried out the venture to contribute to the unity of the residents, particularly at this critical period of the post elections across the country.
The founder noted that the future of youths is dependent on the lifestyle they live, which she said will only be achieved through activities that will promote national cohesion.
“We have initiated the unity championship tournament to bring together FCT youths,” Laniyi said. “Sports don’t know tribe, religion and political affiliation, so the younger ones, who are the future leaders need to be given the desired attention.”
“Where there is no unity, there would not be a nation where we can call our own. Therefore the youths must embrace the sportsmanship to drive the unity of our country, and make the youth to rise to national heroes.”
Earlier, the Director FCT sport Development, Lukas Istifanus, commended the organiser for investing in the development of youths in sporting activities, especially at the grassroots level. He pledged the FCT Administration commitment to the promoting sports development.
Istifanus promised the organisers that the administration will continue to provide the needed support where necessary to the Foundation, as it is embarking on unifying all the nooks and crannies of the territory through sporting events.
He tasked other key stakeholders within and outside the FCT such as NGOs and we’ll meaning Nigerians, to key into the initiative for the peace and unity of the country. Istiphanus, who pledged the Administration’s support for the tournament, hailed the doggedness of Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi unity championship founder.
