By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has expressed its readiness to partner with private and corporate individuals towards developing and raising the standard of sports in the territory.
The Director, Sports Development of the Social Development Secretariat, Lukas Istifanus, who stated this during the debut of the Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, FCT football tournament, said the administration was committed to developing youth sporting activities at the grassroot level.
He said investing in grassroot sports in the territory will, in the nearest future, catapult the FCT to become a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian sporting circle, thereby reducing crime among the youths.
Istifanus, also commended organisers of the tournament for not only using sporting activities to keep FCT youths engaged, but also creating a unifying platform.
He noted that the performance of FCT in the last National Sports Festival where it clinched the gold medal in the football event, further demonstrated its comparative strength in football and the need for the FCT Administration and other relevant stakeholders to develop and project the territory to the world through sports.
On her part, organiser of the tournament, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, maintained that sports remain the best way to provoke unity and peace across the six area councils.
According to her, sporting activities cement relationships within and outside one’s immediate environment.
Laniyi, noted that the future of youths is hanged on the lifestyle they live, which she said will only be achieved through activities that will promote national cohesion.
“We have initiated the unity championship tournament to bring together FCT youths. Sports don’t know tribe, religion and political affiliation, so the younger ones, who are the future leaders need to be given the desired attention.
“Where there is no unity, there would not be a nation where we can call our own. Therefore the youths must embrace the sportsmanship to drive the unity of our country, and make the youth to rise to national heroes,” she said.
A total of eight teams comprising 1200 players from the six Area councils of the FCT are contesting in the football championship.
