Thousands of young people in communities surrounding Dangote Cement’s plants now have a new stage on which to display their football skills, as the company opened its first Unity Football Tournament simultaneously at its Ibese and Okpella operations.
Fully sponsored by Dangote Cement Plc, the competition brings together youths from host communities around its cement operations in Ibese, Okpella, Obajana and Gboko.
The company, in a statement on Monday said the aim was to promote youth development, peaceful coexistence and closer relationships across community boundaries.
At the ceremonial kick-off in Ibese, Plant Director Ayyagari Subbaraidu described the tournament as a fresh addition to the company’s social investment approach, which already covers education, health, infrastructure and empowerment.
“This football tournament is a new dimension of our social investment strategy, specifically designed to promote youth development, engagement and empowerment,” he said.
He noted that young people make up a large share of the population in host communities, making it important to create meaningful opportunities for their growth.
Subbaraidu explained that the competition goes beyond sport. He said it is meant to give young people an inclusive platform to develop their talents, build relationships and direct their energies toward productive ends, while also deepening trust between the company and its hosts.
“While the teams may compete for the trophy, the bigger victory lies in the unity, friendship and mutual understanding we hope to establish and build,” he said, adding that every community is considered a winner.
In Ibese, 17 host communities have pooled together to form eight teams, which Subbaraidu said shows how sport can break down barriers.
Management also hopes the tournament will help identify promising grassroots footballers who could eventually compete at national and international levels.
He urged players and officials to uphold sportsmanship, discipline, fairness and mutual respect, and warned against violence and confrontation.
Supporters and spectators were also asked to behave responsibly and help keep the atmosphere peaceful and enjoyable.
The tournament also kicked off at the Okpella plant, where Plant Director Mohammed Ismaael said football has a unique power to bring people together regardless of community, background or social status.
According to him, the competition gives young people a chance to interact positively, show off their talents and form friendships that cross community lines.
“For us at Okpella, this is not simply a football competition; it is an investment in our youth, peaceful coexistence and the long-term partnership we cherish with our host communities,” he said.
The simultaneous launch in Ibese and Okpella marks an expansion of Dangote Cement’s host community engagement, adding sport as a tool for youth inclusion, talent discovery, peacebuilding and social cohesion alongside its existing programmes.
