By:
Aisha Mohammed
North East Development Commission, NEDC, has identified sports as a veritable tool for fostering unity, peace, social cohesion and youth engagement across conflict-affected communities in the region.
The Adamawa State Coordinator of the Commission, Khalifa Lawal, made this known while launching the first edition of the 2026 football tournament in Yola, Adamawa State.
Declaring the tournament open, the Adamawa State Coordinator, Khalifa Lawal, represented by the Manager, Corporate Services, Musa Usman, said the competition aligns with the Commission’s core mandates of promoting peaceful coexistence, youth development and social cohesion among communities in the North East.
He emphasized the importance of engaging young people productively to enable them to discover their talents and build bridges across communities still recovering from the impact of insurgency.
The NEDC Adamawa State Coordinator added that the tournament goes beyond competition and trophy-winning, noting that it provides an opportunity for young people to interact, build friendships and promote peaceful coexistence.
“This football competition is not just about winning trophies. It is about unity, tolerance and giving our youths a sense of belonging. NEDC remains committed to initiatives that foster peace while promoting health, youth development and community resilience,” he said.
The NEDC Adamawa State Office reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining youth-focused programs that promote reconciliation, livelihoods, peace and resilience across the North East, in partnership with development partners and relevant stakeholders.
The event, which featured participating teams from the Central Zone of Adamawa State, attracted representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation, Adamawa State Branch, sports officials, stakeholders and hundreds of enthusiastic youths who witnessed the kick-off.
