Maiduguri Council wins NEDC Peace Cup

Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), at the weekend, defeated Kukawa to win the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Peace Cup held at the El-Kanemi Warriors, Maiduguri.

The normal and added time of the final match ended in a stalemate, but MMC had the upper hand in the ensuing penalty shoot out, which they won 4-3.

For their efforts, MMC and Kukawa got N250, 000 and N200, 000 respectively from Abdulkadir Rahis, represents MMC Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, which also included a workshop for games masters, North East Development Commission’s (NEDC) Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali: “We’ll continue to promote sporting activities among displaced persons to ensure peace in the liberated communities of the state.”

According to Alkali, the football competition and games masters’ workshop were organised to engage the youths in positive ventures, adding, “Today’s Peace Cup Competition (PCC) is aimed at discovering talents at the grassroots level.”

He pledged that the commission would replicate the competition across the six states in the Northeast to “foster peaceful coexistence among the various communities affected by the 12-year-old Boko Haram insurgency.

“The competition is to encourage our youths to return to their respective communities and promote sporting activities.

“The commission has also organised training workshops for coaches for the Peace Cup tournaments among the 27 councils.”

Also speaking at the event, Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Isa Hussaini Marte, assured the Commission of sustained partnership in sports development.