By Francis Sadhere, Warri
Renowned peace advocate and environmentalist, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has called on government agencies, corporate organisations, development partners and well-meaning individuals to support the 2026 edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup.
He described the tournament as a strategic platform for promoting peace, youth empowerment and grassroots sports development.
The tournament, a multi-million naira initiative of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in collaboration with the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy, is expected to bring together teams representing six major ethnic nationalities in Delta State—Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ika, Ndokwa and Urhobo.
Mulade explained that the competition has evolved from the former Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament, which was introduced after the Warri crisis to promote reconciliation and reduce ethnic tensions through sports.
According to him, the expansion into the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup reflects a broader vision of strengthening peaceful coexistence and fostering stronger relationships among all ethnic groups across the state.
He said the tournament aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), which promotes peace, justice and strong institutions, adding that it would continue to serve as a platform for conflict prevention, youth engagement, talent discovery and community development.
Mulade noted that beyond encouraging peaceful coexistence, the competition is designed to discover and nurture football talents at the grassroots, empower young people through sports and promote social inclusion and socio-economic development.
He disclosed that the biennial tournament is scheduled to kick off on November 16 every two years to coincide with the International Day for Tolerance, a globally recognised day dedicated to promoting mutual understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence.
The organisers said preparations for the 2026 edition have commenced, with participating teams expected from the six ethnic nationalities. The competition is also expected to attract community leaders, government officials, football enthusiasts, corporate organisations and development partners.
CEPEJ and the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy said organisations and individuals that partner with the initiative would be supporting a credible peace-building programme with extensive grassroots reach, strong community engagement and a proven track record of using sports to foster reconciliation and development.
They expressed confidence that the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup has grown beyond a football competition into a recognised platform for strengthening inter-ethnic harmony, discovering football talents and advancing sustainable peace and development across Delta State.
Renowned peace advocate and environmentalist, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has called on government agencies, corporate organisations, development partners and well-meaning individuals to support the 2026 edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup.
He described the tournament as a strategic platform for promoting peace, youth empowerment and grassroots sports development.
The tournament, a multi-million naira initiative of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in collaboration with the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy, is expected to bring together teams representing six major ethnic nationalities in Delta State—Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ika, Ndokwa and Urhobo.
Mulade explained that the competition has evolved from the former Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament, which was introduced after the Warri crisis to promote reconciliation and reduce ethnic tensions through sports.
According to him, the expansion into the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup reflects a broader vision of strengthening peaceful coexistence and fostering stronger relationships among all ethnic groups across the state.
He said the tournament aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), which promotes peace, justice and strong institutions, adding that it would continue to serve as a platform for conflict prevention, youth engagement, talent discovery and community development.
Mulade noted that beyond encouraging peaceful coexistence, the competition is designed to discover and nurture football talents at the grassroots, empower young people through sports and promote social inclusion and socio-economic development.
He disclosed that the biennial tournament is scheduled to kick off on November 16 every two years to coincide with the International Day for Tolerance, a globally recognised day dedicated to promoting mutual understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence.
The organisers said preparations for the 2026 edition have commenced, with participating teams expected from the six ethnic nationalities. The competition is also expected to attract community leaders, government officials, football enthusiasts, corporate organisations and development partners.
CEPEJ and the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy said organisations and individuals that partner with the initiative would be supporting a credible peace-building programme with extensive grassroots reach, strong community engagement and a proven track record of using sports to foster reconciliation and development.
They expressed confidence that the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup has grown beyond a football competition into a recognised platform for strengthening inter-ethnic harmony, discovering football talents and advancing sustainable peace and development across Delta State.
