Jubilation as Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Football Tournament Kicks Off
ODE-ITSEKIRI/Nigeria: It was a jubilant atmosphere on Saturday, November 16, 2024, as Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people, played host to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Football Tournament. The event, held in the historic town also known as ‘Big Warri,’ attracted a diverse audience, including former football internationals Sam Sodje, Edema Fuludu, and Bright Omokaro, who were among the notable dignitaries at the colourful ceremony.
The occasion brought together an impressive line-up of personalities, including the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, and representatives of the host community such as Hon. E.A.E. Otare Aja, Comr. Ejoh Dimas, Secretary-General of Ode-Itsekiri, and Comr. Asakpi Richardson, Chairman of Warri South-West NULGE. Others present were Prince Samson Ochuko, Chief Inspector of Education, Warri South-West LGA, and Rev. Oreva Idudhi, Vice Principal of Kokodiagbene Secondary School, alongside officiating referee Ede Gift and assistant referees Asakpi Toritseju and Ogaga Diare.
The Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, now in its fifth edition, is an initiative of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), organised in collaboration with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and other partners. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade, highlighted the tournament’s decade-long history and its role in fostering peace and unity among Delta State’s ethnic nationalities.
“This year’s competition, deliberately launched on November 16 to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Tolerance, underscores the critical importance of peace and unity,” Chief Mulade stated. He urged Deltans to embrace the initiative as a platform for fostering harmony and driving meaningful development across communities. Expressing gratitude to the host community, Chief Mulade commended their warm reception and appealed to stakeholders to support the tournament’s objectives for the collective good of the State.
The Executive Chairman of Ode-Itsekiri, Mr. Anthony Odonghanro, in his welcome address, lauded the organisers for selecting the community as the host for this year’s opening ceremony. He lamented the underutilisation of the world-class Ode-Itsekiri football pitch, built by former NFF Chairman Amaju Pinnick, and called on sports enthusiasts to seize the tournament as an opportunity to revitalise the facility.
Ex-Super Eagles player and 1994 Nations Cup winner Edema Fuludu also applauded the initiative, citing the unifying power of football. “Football can stop wars, as it did during the Nigerian Civil War when the legendary Pele visited,” Fuludu remarked. He underscored the sport’s potential to inspire youths, curbing social vices like drug abuse while fostering discipline and leadership.
The opening ceremony featured a novelty match between two teams, with Ijaw and Itsekiri players joining forces against a side comprising players from the Ndokwa, Isoko, Ika, and Urhobo ethnic groups. The match, complemented by a performance from the Itsekiri cultural troupe, ended 2-0 in favour of the Ijaw/Itsekiri team, marking a historic collaboration on the football pitch.
The tournament, set to officially commence on Sunday, November 17, will feature 24 teams representing Delta State’s six ethnic nationalities. Matches will be played across the State, culminating in the grand finale on Sunday, December 8, 2024, in Oreorokpe, Okpe LGA, with a prize of ₦5 million at stake.
