Ahead of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup competition billed to kickoff on Saturday, November 16, 2024 (marking the International Day of Tolerance as declared by UNESCO), an inspection team from the organisers of the competition as led by Chief Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator of the Centre fot Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), have inspected the football pitch at Ode Itsekiri (popularly known as Big Warri), the venue earmarked for the opening ceremony of the competition, in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Among other members of the inspection team that visited the riverine community in company of the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Mulade, is the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha who is the immediate-past chairman of Delta State Football Federation (DFF).

The team on their visit to the riverine community inspected the pitch at Ode Itsekiri to know its state of readiness.

Earlier, the visiting team officially met with a leader, the Olaraja of Ode-Itsekiri, Pa. Afere Ejutemieden; the community chairman, Mr. Anthony Odonghanro; a member of Ode-Itsekiri Elders council, Elder Emma Eyione, among other leaders to intimate them on the purpose of the visit and the forthcoming football competition.

According to Chief Mulade, the purpose of the competition is to promote peace and enhance unity among Deltans inorder to attract more development to the state in general.

"We have come to inform the community and to seek your support in the upcoming Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup competition, formerly known as Ijaw and Itsekiri Peace Cup. This year's edition is the fifth tournament and it is Ode Itsekiri we want to use for the opening ceremony and we are bringing some ex-internationals to witness the opening ceremony and we expect the community leaders to participate," he added.

On the competition, Chief Mulade stated that the ethnic groups comprising the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and Isoko will each produce four teams from which four finalists from the ethnic groups will emerge for the semi final and the final.

He informed the leaders that while the winner of the competition will go home with N2 million, the first, second, and third runners-up will N1.5 million, N1 million and N500,000k, adding that the essence is that every participants is a winner.

Speaking further he disclosed that on November 30th, all the participating teams of the competition will be given their free jerseys, kits and footballs to prepare ahead for the tournament. 

He therefore appealed for the support of the community to help mobilise guests as well as create a peaceful atmosphere on November 16, the International Day of Tolerance, for the kickoff of the ceremony.

The chairman of Ode Itsekiri, Mr. Odonghanro, in his response said that the community is a lover of football and peace, and that they are honoured to host the opening ceremony, just as he promised their cooperation as well as guarantee security for the competition.

Highlight of the visit is the offer of prayers of blessings by the Olaraja of Ode-Itsekiri, Pa. Ejutemieden, on the inspection team.

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