Foundation Pledges To Foster Unity In Nasarawa Community Through Football

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) called Maikaya Development Foundation, has said it will foster unity and peaceful coexistence among ethnic groups in Toto Local Government Area of the Nasarawa state, through football.

Founder of the NGO, Alhaji Muhammed Maikaya, said this at the final of the Foundation’s annual grassroot football tournament held in Toto yesterday.

I:t was reported that finals of the tournament’s 2025 edition, had Toto Football Club against Adadu Football Club which ended in a goalless draw after normal time.

Adadu FC then defeated Toto FC 2-0 in a penalty shootout to lift the tournament’s trophy and earn the cash prize for the winner of the competition.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Maikaya expressed joy over the success of the tournament, which is the sixth edition.

He said it has fostered unity among the different tribes in the area and also offering sporting opportunities for youths in the area.

He added that organising the tournament is in line with the objectives of the NGO, which is to meaningfully engage youths and foster peace and unity in the community.

“I am sure we all know the role of football in bringing people together; There was a time when in this area it was difficult to have all the tribes together but we are lucky we have a pragmatic governor who did all he could to ensure all tribes live in peace and harmony.

“We also have a good local government chairman who is working hard to ensure that peace and harmony is sustained in the area.

“We as an NGO will continue to host this tournament and improve on it annually with the objective of fostering unity, peace and harmony and opening opportunities for youths interested in football in the area,” he said.

Chairman of Toto LGA, Ahmed Baba-Yahaya, appreciated the NGO and its founder for consistently organising the tournament as a platform for youths in the area to showcase their skills and expose them to opportunities abound in the game of football.

He said that the tournament has not only offered opportunities to youths but has also endeared tribes towards one another, which was lacking in the past.

“Honestly we thank Alhaji Maikaya for his consistency in making this tournament available for our youths and for using it as a platform to help unite different tribes in the area.

“You can see that when there is a tournament like this, it helps to drive away disunity far from us; On our part we will continue to engage and support Alhaji Maikaya to sustain this tournament because of the benefits it offers to our people,” he said.

Also speaking, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Nasarawa state chapter, Mr Jaafar Loko, also thanked the NGO for sustenance of the tournament over the years.

He assured that he will continue to engage with Maikaya Development Foundation and other well meaning citizens of the state, to foster grassroots engagements, especially through sports in the state.

NAN reports that aside the football tournament, another NGO, Hajiya Hadiza Foundation, also collaborated with Maikaya Development Foundation, to empower women in the community with items such as sewing machines, grinding machines and hair dryer machines

(NAN)