A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Senatorial aspirant of the party in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, declared her resolve to invest more in Sports as part of her efforts to unite residents of the nation’s capital.
The APC Chieftain who is the organizer of the maiden Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi FCT Unity Football Championship disclosed this in an interview with Journalists in Abuja Nigeria’s capital during a final football tornament.
According to her, the competition was organized to foster unity and discover grassroots talents scattered across the FCT.
The media entrepreneur said sports could serve as a veritable tool for empowering Nigerian youths and promoting unity in the country.
“This inaugural competition is meant to engage our youth and promote unity in the country, starting with FCT.
“If there is no unity, there cannot be a nation. So, we are trying to use sports to bring about positive change, get our youths off the streets, and build a great nation,” she said.
Benjamins-Laniyi said ex-internationals such as Kanu Nwankwo and Femi Ajilore were selected as ambassadors of the competition to give inspiration and mentorship to young talents discovered during the tournament.
The match which signaled the end of a month-long competition among teams from the six Area Councils of the FCT saw Legend FC of AMAC defeating Maracana FC of Kwali 2-1 to lift the trophy.
Kelechi Francis of Legend FC opened scoring in the 38th minute before Sheriff Idris of Maracana FC restored parity for the Kwali boys on resumption of the second half in the 47th minute.
The Chairman of the FCT, traditional council, the Ona of Abaji, His Royal Highness, Adamu Yunusa while urging stakeholders in the FCT to emulate Adedayo gesture for peaceful coexistence of the country also enjoyed them to continue to use sports in curtailing youth’s restiveness.
The Traditional ruler stated that sports irrespective of it kinds have proven to be a strong unifying factor for people of all ethnic groups and demography.
