Former Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, has announced his participation as a ‘guest player’ for the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) football team, Team Correspondents, in the 2nd Edition of the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel Football Tournament.
The three-day tournament, themed ‘Football for Friendship and Peace’, kicks off today at 10:00 AM at the Area 10 football field by Old Parade Ground, Abuja.
The event aims to foster camaraderie and strengthen relationships between the media and participating organizations.
In the tournament, the NUJ team will compete against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during the group and knockout stages, while other matches include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) facing the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) taking on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), and AIBEN playing against the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
Additional matchups feature the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) versus the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) and the Nigeria Police Force against the Federal High Court (FHC).
Philip Shuaibu expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament on Wednesday, during a visit from the Chairman of the FCT Correspondents Chapel, Mr. Jide Oyekunle, who formally presented Shuaibu with his jersey and kits.
Shuaibu highlighted the critical role journalists have played in his life, affirming his commitment to support their initiatives.
“For me, anything for journalists, I am there even when I am weak. If I have small energy and journalists call and say we need you, I can use that last energy to be part of their program.
God has used journalists to save my life, and I am ready to sacrifice my last energy to support and identify with any program organized by journalists in the country,” Shuaibu stated.
He praised the football tournament initiative led by Mr. Oyekunle as laudable and outstanding, urging the government, organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative.
He also recounted his involvement in organizing the pre-season football tournament, “Education for Girl Child,” with Besty Obaseki, the wife of the Edo State Governor, emphasizing his belief in football’s unifying power.
NUJ Chairman Jide Oyekunle described Shuaibu’s participation as a morale booster for the players and conferred the captain title of the NUJ team on him. “His presence would further boost the morale of the players and keep them in high spirits,” Oyekunle said.
The tournament is set to feature twelve teams from various government organizations, security agencies, and professional bodies, all competing to promote friendship, peace, and unity through the sport.
