By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with organizations that use sports as a tool to promote peace, unity, and socio-economic development across the state and the nation.
State Commissioner for Sports Development, Professor Benjamin Kumai Gugong, disclosed this during a peace-building event held to mark this year’s International Youth Week, organized by the German Cooperation agency, GIZ, themed ‘Sport for Development’, in Kaduna.
Professor Gugong commended the initiative, describing it as a practical step toward fostering peaceful coexistence -a value the state has consistently advocated.
“What GIZ is doing is helping us to maintain the peaceful coexistence we’ve been preaching. There’s hardly anything better than sports to take our youths away from social vices,” he said.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the state is working on an ‘Operation Catch Them Young’ model aimed at using sports to positively engage young minds and steer them away from anti-social behaviors such as drug abuse, terrorism, and other ills.
“To a great extent here in Kaduna, we are making a lot of progress. The narrative is changing gradually. It’s not perfect yet, but we believe that in no distant time, it will be well with our youth,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Technical Advisor for Peace and Conflict Transformation at GIZ, Geraldine Aku, noted that the organization is currently working in Kaduna, Plateau, and Taraba States, focusing on the youth, peace, and security.
She emphasized that Sport for Development, a program under the Peace Core II Project, aims to unite young people, prevent radicalization, and promote peacebuilding.
“By engaging youth in sports, we are grooming peace ambassadors who can return to their communities and discourage violence while promoting peace and unity,” she stated.
On her part, Executive Director of FAME Foundation and one of the event’s partners, Mrs. Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, described the initiative as timely, highlighting sports as a powerful unifying force in a diverse country as Nigeria.
“Nigeria is heterogeneous in nature. We have over 500 spoken languages, different religions, and ethnicities, but sport unites us.
“During conflict, once sport is involved, people forget about the conflict. It has the power to bring peace,” she explained.
The one-day program featured participation from four major communities—Barkalawu, Rigasa, Kaduna North and South, and Lariya, including persons with disabilities, showcasing the inclusive nature of the initiative.
