By Mayen Etim, Kaduna
The residents of Kakuri, Kurmin Mashi, Tudun Wada, and Kabala West communities in Kaduna South Local Government Area on Saturday turned out enmass to celebrate this year’s International Day of Sports for Development and Peace (IDSDP).
The event, held at the Sports Complex of the Standard Foundation School in Gwari Avenue, Barnawa, Kaduna, attracted Person’s with Disabilities (PwDs), women’s organizations, traditional title holders, religious leaders, and youth groups among others. The gathering aimed to highlight the importance of sports in promoting peace and social inclusion in Kaduna State.
The event was organized by the Kaduna State Peace Commission (KSPC) in collaboration with Deutsche Zusammenarbeit
Themed “Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion,” the event was organized by the Kaduna State Peace Commission (KSPC) in collaboration with Deutsche Zusammenarbeit (German Cooperation) and implemented by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), under its PEACECORE Project.
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Professor Benjamin Gugong, expressed his support for KSPC and its international partners, especially for including PwDs in their activities.
He commended KSPC for providing hope and strength to PwDs, noting that this promotes peace and social inclusion, not only in Kaduna but across Nigeria.
Governor Uba Sani fully supports initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence and has directed that any project related to peace and unity in the state
Professor Gugong emphasized that Governor Uba Sani fully supports initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence and has directed that any project related to peace and unity in the state should be reported back to him for further support.
The Commissioner pledged to support the teams participating in the event by providing them with jerseys and footballs. He urged the people of Kaduna State to become peacebuilders and maintain peace to ensure the state’s sustainable development.
“You can see that everyone is enjoying relative peace today compared to years ago when such gatherings were impossible,” said Professor Gugong.
In her welcome speech, the Head of the PEACECORE Project, Myriam Wedroago, underscored the significance of the day’s event, highlighting the power of sports in fostering peace, solidarity, and social cohesion. She explained that sports have an unparalleled ability to unite people from diverse backgrounds, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
“Today, we celebrate not only athleticism and competitive spirit but the deeper values that sports instill—fair play, teamwork, perseverance, and respect,” Wedroago said.
We celebrate not only athleticism and competitive spirit but the deeper values that sports instill—fair play, teamwork, perseverance, and respect
She explained that the PEACECORE II project, being implemented in Kaduna, Plateau and Taraba states, aims to address longstanding conflicts and improve livelihoods in the region. KSPC plays a key role in promoting non-violent, gender-responsive peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
“Together, PEACECORE II and KSPC focus on securing peaceful coexistence among communities, which is essential for securing the livelihoods and resilience of people in Plateau State.
“Today’s event is a testament to our shared commitment to peacebuilding and community resilience. Every sport, every competition, is an opportunity to reinforce the call for peace and unity,” she added.
The participation of youth, women, and persons with disabilities in the event symbolizes a collective commitment to inclusion and sustainable peace. “Their involvement is a powerful reminder that peace is a shared responsibility and that every voice matters. We are confident that through events like these, we can continue raising awareness and garnering public support for peacebuilding efforts,” Wedroago stated.
She further emphasized that by investing in sports and community-based peace processes, the root causes of conflict can be addressed, promoting reconciliation.
We are confident that through events like these, we can continue raising awareness and garnering public support for peacebuilding efforts
Earlier, the Permanent Commissioner with KSPC, Barr. Rebecca Sako-John, spoke about the importance of peace and sports as tools for promoting peace and social inclusion. She highlighted the intersection between peace and development, noting that development can only thrive in the presence of peace. Sako-John also pointed out that sports act as a unifying factor, as seen in the case of Nigeria.
“According to the theme of the year, ‘inclusion—leaving no one behind,’ PwDs were an integral part of the sporting events,” she said. “All the participating teams were mixed, regardless of ethnic or religious backgrounds, promoting social cohesion. Even their seating arrangements were designed to encourage interaction among people from different tribes, communities, and religious groups.”
She urged participants to return to their communities and continue promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, and to report any signs of violence. “Many of them are already KSPC’s partners, working in community structures to promote peace,” she informed.
Four teams competed in the event: Zaman Lafiya Amputee Club vs. Munatare Amputee Club (Kaduna State Amputee Football Association), and the women were represented by Women In Peace Football Club vs. Women In Conflict Management Football Club. The Ikon Allah Football Club, which drew its members from the four communities, emerged as the winners. The winning teams were awarded trophies and medals.
Many of them are already KSPC’s partners, working in community structures to promote peace
The IDSDP is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development, foster peace and understanding.
The Network of Peace Journalists (NPJ) in Kaduna State also attended the event. The team leader, Ibrahim Yakubu, commended the organizers for their efforts and encouraged the use of sports to promote peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths in the state. He stated that the NPJ, which comprises 50 peace journalists, has been using sports to unite youth and women, strengthening relationships between diverse faith communities.
“As we mark this important day, the NPJ reaffirms its mission to leave no one behind and called on the global community to join our #GlobalCall2Action. Together, we can build a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable world—one community, one young person, and one game at a time.”
All the participating teams were mixed, regardless of ethnic or religious backgrounds, promoting social cohesion
The NPJ also issued a global call to action, urging greater coordinated efforts from governments, institutions, and civil society to harness the power of sport in achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Yakubu thanked the KSPC and its German partners for organizing such a significant event.
