Alhaji Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, has organised a football competition among youths in his community in order to promote unity and peace in Niger and the country at large.
Ndarani, the Hukunchi Nupe and Hausaland, spoke in an interview with newsmen after the finals of the football competition in Vunchi, Doko District of Lavun Local Government Area of Niger on Wednesday.
He said the ‘Hukunchi Nupe football competition’, was going to be an annual event.
The Senior Advocate said that the tournament would also bolster peace and unity in Niger and Nigeria in general.
Accordingly to him, the vibrant football competition was aimed at promoting unity and peace among youths.
It would be recalled that Young Stars Football club of Doko has emerged winners of the Hukunchi Nupe Cup
The team defeated Sparkling stars also of Doko 4-3 on penalties after regulation time ended in a barren draw.
Fourteen teams from the axis participated in the competition which lasted for over a month as footballers at the grassroots gave a good account of themselves.
He said that football apart from promoting unity and peace among Nigerians, would reduce youths restiveness in the country.
According to him, football promotes unity and peace, saying, “in Nigeria, sports like football foster national pride and bridge ethnic divides.
“The importance of sports like football extends far beyond physical activity. It creates jobs for many youths.
“It plays a vital role in personal development, community building, and even national progress.
“Football just like other sporting activities that bring about youths engagement that keeps young people away from negative influences and social vices.
“Fitness, football enhances strength, flexibility, and endurance, social and community benefits among others,” he said
Ndarani called on the youths and other Nigerians to embrace football and other sporting activities for the overall development of the country.
The revered legal Icon said, “I feel so delighted to see people from different communities coming together to participate.
“Football is a powerful tool for unity, and we’re proud to host this event.”
The competition has drawn dignitaries from various communities, including traditional leaders and government officials.
The event is expected to promote peace, sportsmanship, and talent development among Nigerian youths.
He added, “I sponsored the football competition in my community to unite all the youths and to ensure that there should be a peace in our area, because football is unity .
“It gives the community the much needed peace without creating any rancour in the society.”
The learned silk assured of his continued commitment to initiate different youths friendly policies and programmes that would keep the youths off the streets in the country.
The renowned legal luminary said organising football competition in remote areas would bring out the hidden talents, that could be stars that the nation can be proud of tomorrow.
“They can also be shining stars in Manchester United, Arsenal, among others in the future,$ Ndarani added.
The tournament, which featured participants, was designed to inspire young people and steer them away from social vices.
The event attracted dignitaries from different parts of the state included the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and the Shaba Nupe, Alhaji Manko Yilata.
Others were District and Village Heads, Imam, Prof. Tanko Suleiman, Vice-Chancellor , Edu Soko University, Bida and Alhaji Muhammad Alfa-Maali, Chairman of Lavun LGA, among others
