Chairman of NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel Comrade Jide Oyekunle addressing the Press


The 3-day Football Tournament between media practitioners, government departments and security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory,  FCT takes off Thursday, August 3 and continues through Saturday, August 5,  beginning 10 am daily at the Area 10 Football Pitch by Old Parade Ground Abuja.


Teams billed to feature in the Football Fiesta are drawn from the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA;  Nigerian Police Force, NPF; Federal High Court; Nigeria Medical Association, NMA and Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC 




Teams from  the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; National Orientation Agency, NOA;  Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN  and NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel would also be featuring in the Tournament 


"The 3-day Football Tournament is conceptualised as a bridge building initiative between organisation working towards similar purposes but often impeded by communication breakdown", says Comrade Jide Oyekunle,  Chairman of the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel, organisers of the tournament.


"Having recognised football as a unifying factor that speaks the language of everybody, the FCT Correspondents Chapel decided to use it as a platform for the  much-needed reconciliation,  peace seeking mission and understanding between journalists and their sources in the various MDAs, including the military, para-military and security agencies,  particularly at this critical time in our nation's history.


Comrade Oyekunle explained that the 3-day tournament was  not conceptualised as a 'Winner-Take-All' tournament but rather as rapprochement seeking fiesta with the overall aim of  boosting and strengthening friendly relationship between the participating agencies/departments/organisations in the interest of the Nigerian Project 


Oyekunle added  that the climax of the tournament will witness the ceremonial presentation of the trophy and medals to the winning teams on Saturday, August 5th by 10:00 am when the final match will be played.


Speaking further, Oyekunle stated that the event will attract dignitaries, captains of industries, government officials and football lovers and enthusiasts from all walks of life including the representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.


“Sport does not have a language. Sport is an integral activity that unites people and has the power to change the world, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political background.


“In the course of carrying out our statutory responsibilities, we cross each other's paths by commission or omission, which at times may have resulted in misunderstanding and bickering.


“There is a need to bridge the gap and align our interests. irrespective of our profession for the purpose of making the country a place where love and peace reign supreme.


“All the organizations taking part in this tournament should remember that we are all stakeholders in the Nigeria project and we are all working for the same purpose but in different ways. We should therefore relate to each other as partners in progress rather than as adversaries.


“A Nigeria that works is in the interest of every Nigerian, irrespective of vocation or occupation. Let us, therefore, use this tournament to inspire, forge friendships and build respect among ourselves,” Oyekunle affirmed.


He urged governments at all levels to leverage sports, especially football to embark on a fence-mending mission across the country, with a view of healing the emotional and psychological wounds of Nigerians in the interest of peace, national unity and integration.


Oyekunle urged participating organizations to exhibit true spirit of sportsmanship throughout the competition and ensure fair play and going  for the ball rather than the leg.


“We urge you to reflect on the objectives of the competition and work hard to ensure that the aim is not defeated because the Olympic game is not to win but to participate.


“For us at NUJ this tournament will also enhance our physical and mental alertness and wellbeing and we would play the tournament and win.


“From this maiden edition, we hope to make this tournament an annual event and also increase the number of participating organizations and ensure that it grows bigger and better every year.


“We appreciate all corporate organisations who have decided to sponsor and make the maiden edition of the tournament a huge success. We equally salute our colleagues for partnering with us to boost the publicity for the tournament,”  he said.


The tournament was supported by Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi , Managing Partner,  Law Corridor; TI' Bilon Construction; Julius Berger Nigeria; OrdersPaper; Red Cross; FCT FA, FCTA and Hypeplug.


Others are - GMW Insurance Brokers Ltd; A New Thing International Foundation and Ti' Bilon Healthcare Foundation.