A football tournament that originated from the fall-out of the Warri crisis as the Ijaw and Itsekiri Peace and Unity Cup with the aim to promote peaceful coexistence between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri ethnic nationalities of Delta State has today metamorphosed into the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup with same vision, but encompassing all ethnic nationalities in the state.

Birthed by the foremost activist and peace ambassador, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), and the Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state, while re-emphasising the vision of the tournament, said:

"This initiative is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The tournament serves as a platform for: building bridges of unity and promoting socio-economic development, discovering and nurturing football talents at the grassroots level, and celebrating sustainable peace and peaceful coexistence."

So far, the peace and unity initiative has over the years hosted the tournament and helped served as a bridge to bring together the Ijaws and the Itsekiris. But asides the aim of promoting and enhancing peace and unity towards availing the government and investors with the needed atmosphere for development of the oil-rich but impoverished riverine areas, the tournament has also served as an avenue to create opportunities for talented youths in the coast to showcase their talents and skills in the round leather game of football. Over the years, most idle youths in the targeted areas, through their participation as community football teams, have received cash gifts and even earned recognition from football scouts. 

Also, the peace and unity initiative of Chief Mulade has brought to the fore the need for the ethnic inhabitants of the riverine areas (the Ijaws and the Itsekiris) to focus on the bigger picture of what they stand to gain through collaboration than dwelling on the petty divisive issues of ethnic sentiments that have only ended up worsening their plights as both ethnic groups suffer from the same issues of environmental degradation, unemployment and poverty.

While the peace and unity initiative has made inroads in reaping some benefits such as helping to reduce tensions between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris, and helped the ethnic nationalities to realize the need for collaboration towards solving general challenges confronting them, the promoters have also realized that the success of the Ijaws and the Itsekiris will also be enhanced through wider collaboration with other ethnic groups in the state, thus advancing the initiative into a state affair for the benefit of all Deltans.

The maiden edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, which is scheduled to commence on the International Day of Tolerance, Saturday, November 16, 2024, is an initiative that should be supported by all well meaning stakeholders in the state, particularly the State Government as led by the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to join hands with the host, Chief Mulade, to reach out to the grassroots where talents are laying dormant and wasting away.

A beautiful aspect of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup is that its focus is on the youths. It is a well known fact that idle youths have always been the instrument used by self-centered leaders to create chaos and birth conflicts. If the majority of the youths at the grassroots can be engaged through the showcasing of their skills in a platform like the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, it would go a long way to solidifying the existing peace which in the long term can have positive impacts on the state and national development.

Throwing the invitation for collaboration open, Chief Mulade said, "We cordially invite you to collaborate and sponsor the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, a biennial football tournament aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State. For more information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact: 08032340001, 08037196259 and 08061675744."

This collaboration and sponsorship, which is also open to the business class, also comes with the benefits of brand visibility, community engagements, public relations that is aimed at enhancing brand reputation, and networking opportunities to connect brands with influential individuals and organizations within the state.

It is hoped that the initiative will continue to grow as it moves presently from the Ijaw and Itsekiri Peace and Unity Cup Tournament to the current Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, and in the nearest future into a regional, then national and furthermore into a global initiative.

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