The organisers of the maiden edition of President Bola Tinubu U20 Unity football championship, Onengiye Elekima Foundation have come out to explain why they are using football as a tool to propagate their peace and unity agenda, in line with the avowed commitments of President Bola Tinubu towards engendering lasting peace, unity and progress ìn the country.

President and founder of the foundation, Comrade Onengiye Elekima, in a press statement explained that the forthcoming football championship would see male and female U20 football clubs from across the 774 local government areas of Nigeria, participate and battle for the grand prize money of N50 million.

He was quick however, to reiterate the drive behind the competition. According to the soft-spoken youth advocate, the competition is ostensibly targeted at giving the less privileged, the vulnerable and the seemingly maligned and particularly, the displaced members of the society, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to display their God-given talents.

“We’re very concerned about the lives of the less privileged and particularly, the people of the various IDP camps in the country,” he said.

“Nigeria is a very blessed nation in all of its ramifications and we believe there are millions of talented male and female youths in the villages, towns and even the IDP camps. The Onengiye Elekima Foundation, is set to seek them out and give them a lifetime opportunity to move out of the dark and become better persons by realising their dreams.

“And over several decades, football has become the most veritable tool for promotionbefore peace and unity in the world.  We know the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to engendering peace and unity in the country, and particularly, his love and determination to ensure the Nigerian youths are empowered and encouraged to positively channel their unbridled energies to the betterment of the society. That is why we have keyed into his policies for the youths. And what better tool than football,” he asked rhetorically.

He further disclosed that registration for the competition is free and ongoing, as interested clubsides can visit the dedicated website to download and fill the forms for participation via www.onengiyeelekimafoundation.org.ng

Members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State Chapter met with the National Leadership of the Professional body with a view to find lasting solution to the lingering issues.

The meeting which held inside the SWAN Chapter Secretariat located within the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, had in attendance both Veterans and Young Sports Writing Practitioners, at the instance of SWAN National President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin.

At the meeting, the President of SWAN while commending members of the sporting media at the Nigeria’s Commercial hub, recalled the high-octane vibrancy SWAN Lagos was known for, being the centerpiece of Journalism practice, particularly Sports Writing.

President Benjamin then urged all interests to sheath their swords and unite for the overall growth and well-being of the revered Association.

The number one sportswriter in Nigeria also reminded them of the need to join hands in restoring needed peace and be united as it were, adding, “For us at the National Executive Committee (NEC), we are committed to ensuring that the various 36 States and FCT Chapters are not only united but formidable.

“Everyone knows that yes all the Chapters are important, but Lagos is the hub of Journalism practice in Nigeria. So, as the privileged SWAN President today, I’m very much disturbed about what Lagos State Chapter has turned out to be in recent years. Since I took over, I haven’t rested. I have kept calling and engaging especially our veterans on best solution to the issues.

“It now for all SWAN members to join hands to restore the height SWAN is known for in Lagos and make it better. The good thing is that majority of Sports Writers, including the Elders are in agreement that there is need to reunite and, in few months, ahead make plans on to conduct fresh election.”

The SWAN President enjoined members to particularly rally round and allow the incumbent Chaper Executive led by Olatutu Oladunni to complete their tenure by October 2025 when a new election will be conducted, with an assurance that those who will form part of the Electoral Committee will be drawn from sides of the divide.

He also assured that the National Leadership will be unbiased in ensuring seamless process, just as it was done in FCT Chapter in 2024.

Some of the Elders and Young SWAN members who spoke during the meeting, including Mr. Kunle Salami, Mr. Patrick Ibeh, Mr. Victor Enyinnaya, Mr. Tony Ubani, Mrs Olatutu Oladunni, Mr. Enitan Obadina, Mrs Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, Mrs Blessing Nwosu, Mr. Bello Omotunde, Mr. Kaseem Ajibola Mr. Oni Afolabi, Mr. Taiwo Adelu among others were one in echoing that the togetherness of the Association will go a long way in ensuring that the upcoming election in Lagos will be successful.

A number of NEC members including National Ex-Officio Mr. Abiodun Ogundipe, National Treasurer Mr. Femi Amusan, Vice President South-West zone Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin and Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo as well as South-West zonal Secretary Mr. Charles Ogundiya accompanied the SWAN President to the meeting.

Nigeria’s Amaju Melvin Pinnick is highly favoured to retain his seat as a member of the 37-person FIFA Council – the supreme governing-organ for world football – when elections are conducted at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.

The debonair football administrator is at the forefront of the race alongside Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and Egyptian Hany Abou Rida, with 10 persons to battle for the available five seats when the poll is called inside the Marriott Mena House on Wednesday morning.

Africa has seven seats on the FIFA Council, with the sitting CAF President’s position guaranteed. One of the seven seats is reserved for a woman, and here, CAF’s sitting 5th vice president Kanizat Ibrahim from the Comoros Islands will slug it out with sitting member Isha Johansen from Sierra Leone.

The contest for the FIFA Council seats will certainly be the fiercest ever, with Ivorian Yacine Idriss Diallo, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor, Niger Republic’s Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou, Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga, Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya, Benin Republic’s Mathurin De Chacus and Djibouti’s Souleman Hassan Waberi also in the poll.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who is also unchallenged for a second term at African football’s helm, keeps his seat without any sweat, but will watch keenly as only half of the contestants, all strong and deft politicians in their own rights, make it to the esteemed FIFA Council.

Each of the 54 Member Associations will have the opportunity to vote five persons in the densely-populated male category, and one of the two women. President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who will vote on behalf of Nigeria, landed in Cairo on Sunday in company with the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

The Government of Nigeria, which publicly endorsed Pinnick’s candidacy through the Presidency in July 2024, is robustly represented, with Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade on ground.

There were indications on Tuesday morning that Mauritania’s Yahya may also sail through in the contest at the extraordinary general assembly that begins at 9am Nigeria time.

Unlike the elections into the FIFA Council, the race for seats into the CAF Executive Committee has been weakened by zonal arrangements that have seen single candidates emerge in most zones, except the southern African region where firestorms are expected.

South African mining billionaire Motsepe comes from the COSAFA region where four candidates viz, Elvis Chetty (Seychelles), Alfred Randriamanampisoa (Madagascar), Mohamed Ally Samir (Mauritius) and Feizal Ismael Sidat (Mozambique), battle for two seats.

Elsewhere, Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o Fils, who needed the intervention of the Court of Arbitration for Sports to be reinstated on the ballot, is the sole candidate for the UNIFFAC (Central Africa) region, as Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia) for the WAFU A zone; Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku for the WAFU B zone and; Algeria’s Sadhi Walid for the UNAF (North Africa) zone.

The only female seat is also uncontested, with Congolese Bestine Kazadi the only candidate on the ballot.

FIFA Council Poll: Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria); Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco); Hany Abou Rida (Egypt); Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania); Yacine Idriss Diallo (Cote d’Ivoire); Augustin Senghor (Senegal); Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou (Niger Republic), Andrew Kamanga (Zambia), Mathurin De Chacus (Benin Republic) and; Souleman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti).

Female Seat: Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros); Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone)

CAF Exco Poll: Samuel Eto’o (UNIFFAC, unchallenged); Sadhi Walid (UNAF, unchallenged); Mustapha Ishola Raji (WAFU A, unchallenged); Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku (WAFU B, unchallenged); Elvis Chetty (COSAFA); Alfred Randriamanampisoa (COSAFA), Mohamed Ally Samir (COSAFA) and; Feizal Ismael Sidat (COSAFA)

Female Seat: Bestine Kazadi (DR Congo)