……#2022 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: MULADE INAUGURATES IJAW/ITSEKIRI PEACE & UNITY FOOTBALL COMMITTEE
…As Niger-Delta Activist Says, Football Competition Between IJAW /ITSEKIRI Ethnic Nationalities of Delta State Commences On 16th November, 2022
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
Aparts of efforts to towards deepening the universal call for domestication of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, a leading International Non-governmental Organization working in the thematic areas of Peace, Security, Environment, Human Rights Advocacy, Good Governance, Community Development Services and Empowerment, others “Centre For Peace And Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) led by a renowned Niger-Delta Activist, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade has join the entire globe in celebration of International Day of Peace inaugurated Ijaw/as he marked exercise with the Inauguration of IJAW/ITSEKIRI Peace and Unity Football Tournament, scheduled to take place on 16th November, 2022.
Comrade Mulade in a press statement made available to some group of Journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital, today being on Friday, 23rd September, 2022, The Niger-Delta Activist stated that, he had inaugurated the peace and unity football committee on Tuesday being September 20, 2022 at Africa for Peace Center, CEPEJ’s Head Office, Ugolo-Okpe near Warri, Delta State.
The Peace Ambassador said the Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity football competition was to foster and strengthen the existing peace enjoyed by both ethnic groups after a period of disunity, crisis and disaffection.
According to the globally acclaimed Niger-Delta Activist, the competition would build confidence and trust between the Ijaw and Itsekiri people living in Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West LGAs of the State. He said the main aim of the football tournament was to build a harmonious relationship between the two ethnic groups and create avenues for lasting peaceful coexistence among all Deltans, especially between Ijaw and Itsekiri through sports.
In the words of Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade, the IJAW, Delta born Community leader and Peace advocate: “On the date of commencement and venue of the football fiesta, the football event was scheduled to start on the 16th of November 2022, to mark International Day of Tolerance in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals –SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and then climax on the 3rd of December, 2022”.
“The venues of the tournament will be at Benikrukru and Ugborodo communities in Warri South West, LGA. He said the selection of the venues was strategic, Benikrukru is an Ijaw community, while Ugborodo is an Itsekiri community. This was to show to the world that both ethnic groups are living in peace and unity, and it will enable both ethnic groups appreciate the importance of peace and tolerance, as well as accept the mistakes and wrongs of each ethnic group, so as to build and sustain the peaceful coexistence enjoyed by both groups”.
“Those inaugurated to serve in the committee were Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, Chairman; Commodore Kingdom Itoko, (Rtd), Secretary; Mr. Matthew Itsekure, PRO; Mr. Victor Tonlagha, Director of Finance; Omoboye Abosode, Director of Welfare; Mr. Azuka Chiemeka, Director of Media; Amb. City Ojouworo, Director of Mobilization; Hon. Raymond Pirah, Director of Security; Dr. Jeffrey Wilikie, Asst. Director of Finance; Mr. Philemon Ugedi, Asst. Director of Security; Mr. Bright Tortor, Director of Mobilization, Benikrukru community; Hon. Aboyewa Ikpoto, Director of Transport/Logistics; Hon. Bethus Ayotan, Asst. Director of Transport/Logistics; Mr. Wison Ejeh, Director of Mobilization, Ugborodo community; and Hon. Paul Kirifide, Organizing Secretary’.
” I, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade use this medium to admonish the committee to commence work immediately in order to meet up with the scheduled date and to create the needed awareness for Deltans and Nigerians in general to attend and participate in the event”.
Quoting from the responses of one of the members of the Committee who spoke after Chief Mulade’s acceptance speech during the Inauguration of the Committee, he said: “On behalf of the committee, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, has described development as a great privilege accorded to all in the committee and promised to do their best to deliver on their mandate, and the objectives of the Ijaw and Itsekiri peace and unity football competition”.
You could recall that, The Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament is a biannual football competition organized by Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, coordinated by Chief Mulade Sheriff, who is a Peace Ambassador and activist, as well as the Ibe-Seremowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West, LGA of Delta State.
The highlights of the event was the Inauguration of the Committee by CEPEJ’s Boss, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade and a group photography by its members.