By Francis Sadhere
The Convener of the 2026 Delta Ethnic Peace & Unity Cup and National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the tournament, describing it as a strategic grassroots initiative designed to promote peace, unity, cultural integration and youth empowerment across Delta State.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday in Warri, Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe-Sorimowei of the Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, said the competition, jointly organised by CEPEJ and the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy, would bring together Delta State’s seven major ethnic nationalities—Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Aniocha/Oshimili, Ika, Ndokwa and Urhobo—through football to strengthen peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.
He explained that the Delta Ethnic Peace & Unity Cup is more than a sporting event, describing it as a peacebuilding initiative aimed at fostering friendship among young people, encouraging cultural exchange and creating opportunities for positive engagement across communities.
According to him, the tournament is designed to break ethnic barriers, build trust and reinforce the values of tolerance, dialogue and cooperation, which are essential for sustainable development in Delta State.
Chief Mulade said the competition would also provide a platform for youth engagement, leadership development and talent discovery, while redirecting young people towards productive ventures capable of contributing meaningfully to their communities and the state’s development.
He announced that the competition, with the theme “One in All,” will feature four age categories—Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-20—to ensure broad participation and nurture emerging football talents across the state.
The peace advocate further disclosed that the tournament carries a prize pool of ₦50 million, with winners in various categories receiving multi-million naira rewards to encourage healthy competition and boost youth participation.
Describing the inauguration of the LOC as the beginning of an important journey, Chief Mulade urged committee members to carry out their responsibilities with transparency, professionalism, dedication and teamwork to ensure the success of what he described as a historic competition.
He also appealed to traditional rulers, government institutions, corporate organisations, development partners, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the initiative, noting that collective participation would deepen relationships among the state’s ethnic nationalities and promote lasting peace.
Chief Mulade emphasised that peaceful coexistence remains vital for attracting investment and accelerating development, adding that the initiative complements the development agenda of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, by helping to create a stable environment that encourages investment and job creation.
Expressing confidence in the long-term impact of the tournament, he said the Delta Ethnic Peace & Unity Cup would evolve into one of the state’s foremost grassroots sports and peacebuilding programmes.
A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the 25-member Local Organising Committee. Former Super Eagles international, Edema Fuludu, was unveiled as Adviser, while former footballer and immediate past Chairman of the Delta State Football Association (DFA), Amaju Pinnick’s former ally, Kenneth Nwaomucha, was inaugurated as Chairman of the LOC. Football kits for the participating ethnic teams were also unveiled and inspected.
Chief Mulade called on all Deltans to embrace the vision of a united and prosperous state where diversity is celebrated as a source of strength rather than division.
The 2026 Delta Ethnic Peace & Unity Cup is expected to bring together youths from the seven major ethnic nationalities of Delta State under the slogan: “One Delta. One People. One Victory.”If you’d like, I can also rewrite it in a more newspaper-style format with a stronger lead and tighter paragraphs suitable for front-page publication.
