The West Africa Network for Peace Building, WANEP, has donated football jerseys to youths in Nyuwar Community, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The initiative aims to promote peaceful coexistence among the state’s Lunguda and Waja tribes.
Two sets of 16 Jerseys, two sets of football socks, two balls, two sets of captain bands and whistles, four sets of training bibs for regular training of each team, and two sets of Goal Keeper Jerseys were donated.
The selection of football uniforms, according to Mr. Mohammed Farouk, a representative of the WANEP National Network Coordinator, Mrs. Bridget Osakwe, was influenced by suggestions made by youths and women from the Nyuwar community during the various peace dialogues that were held.
Farouk said each of the two clubs, “Wonders Sparrows” and “Gilengitu FC” of Nyuwar, were a mixture of players from both tribes, to strengthen their relations.
Receiving the items from the representative of WANEP, in Talase, the Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Mr. Garba Umar, represented by the Chief Administration Officer, Mr. Adamu Yerima, thanked WANEP for the gestures.
He commended the move as a very good step in bringing peace and development to the people in Nyuwar and Balanga Local Government Area as a whole.
The Director and Head of Rescue and Rehabilitation for the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Mohammed Garba, said the gesture by WANEP had made his organization the happiest because, with Nyuwar’s unity and peace, Gombe SEMA would have fewer burdens on its shoulders.
Sports Officer of Balanga Local Government Area, Mr. Abubakar Magaji thanked WANEP for the gesture, saying “he is delighted that Waja and Lunguda will now come back to being one like they were in time past.”
Some of the players expressed their gratitude to WANEP for accepting and responding to their request for peace in the area.
