Dangote Cement Plc has launched a football tournament for young people in its host communities, using sports as a platform to encourage peaceful coexistence, discover grassroots talent and strengthen relationships between the company and surrounding communities.
The maiden Unity Football Tournament was flagged off simultaneously at the company’s Ibese and Okpella plants, bringing together teams from communities around its operations in Ibese, Okpella, Obajana and Gboko.
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony in Ibese, the Plant Director, Ayyagari Subbaraidu, described the initiative as another effort by the company to support the social and economic development of its host communities.
He said the competition was a new dimension of Dangote Cement’s social investment strategy, complementing its existing interventions in education, healthcare, infrastructure and empowerment.
According to him, the company recognises the importance of young people in its host communities and the need to provide opportunities that encourage their talents, personal development and productive engagement.
Subbaraidu explained that the tournament was designed to achieve more than sporting excitement, noting that it would give young people from different communities an opportunity to interact, build friendships and develop a sense of belonging.
He also described football as a tool for promoting peace and strengthening relationships between communities and the company, adding that the real success of the competition would be measured by the unity it creates rather than the team that eventually wins the trophy.
At Ibese, 17 host communities have been grouped into eight teams for the competition. Subbaraidu said the arrangement showed how sporting activities could bring people together despite differences in their communities.
He expressed hope that the tournament would also help identify promising footballers who could receive opportunities to develop their skills and potentially progress to national and international competitions.
The plant director urged players, officials and supporters to maintain discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition, warning against violence, unnecessary confrontations and conduct that could put participants at risk.
A similar tournament was launched at the company’s Okpella plant, where Plant Director Mohammed Ismaael said football offered an opportunity to unite people regardless of their backgrounds or social standing.
He described the competition as an investment in young people, peaceful coexistence and the long-term relationship between Dangote Cement and its host communities.
Ismaael added that the initiative would allow young people to showcase their abilities, interact positively and build friendships beyond their immediate communities.
The simultaneous launch in Ibese and Okpella reflects the company’s effort to expand its community engagement programmes by using grassroots sports alongside its established investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic empowerment.
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