By Oghenefejiro Emado
15, July 2026
Delta State is poised for another major peace-building initiative as renowned development and peace advocate, Chief Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has announced that preparations have commenced for the _Multi-Million Naira Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Football Tournament 2026_.
The competition is an initiative of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ in partnership with the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy According to the organizers, the tournament is designed to strengthen peaceful coexistence and foster unity among the various ethnic nationalities in Delta State through the instrumentality of grassroots sports.
Originally established as the _Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament_ in the aftermath of the Warri crisis, the competition was conceived as a strategic peace-building intervention to reduce ethnic tensions and encourage reconciliation between the Ijaw and Itsekiri people. Over the years, the initiative has earned recognition for leveraging football as a veritable tool and platform for promoting dialogue, friendship, and community integration.
In line with its expanded vision, the tournament was renamed the _Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup_ in recent years.
The scope has also been broadened to include six major ethnic groups in the state in order to consolidate peaceful coexistence.
The participating groups are Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ika, Ndokwa, and Urhobo. The organizers stated that this expansion reflects a deliberate commitment to building stronger relationships among all ethnic nationalities and promoting sustainable peace across Delta State.
The organizers further noted that the tournament aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.
They emphasized that the initiative will continue to serve as a platform for conflict prevention, youth engagement, and community development.
Speaking on the objectives of the competition, *Chief Mulade Sheriff, PhD*, explained that the tournament is aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence among the ethnic groups, discovering and nurturing talented footballers at the grassroots level, encouraging youth empowerment through sports, and using football as a tool for socio-economic development and social inclusion.
He added that the biennial competition is scheduled to kick off on November 16 every two years, in commemoration of the International Day for Tolerance — a date globally recognized for promoting mutual understanding, respect, and peaceful coexistence.
The organizers disclosed that preparations are already underway to ensure a successful outing. Participating teams are expected to represent the six ethnic nationalities across Delta State. The competition is also expected to attract football enthusiasts, community leaders, government officials, corporate organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders committed to peacebuilding and youth development.
CEPEJ and the Africa 4 Peace Sports Academy have called on corporate organizations, government agencies, development partners, and well-meaning individuals to partner with the initiative. They noted that such collaboration would further enhance sports development, youth empowerment, and community engagement.
According to the organizations, prospective partners stand to benefit from association with a credible peace-building initiative that offers extensive grassroots reach, strong community networks, and innovative approaches to sports development and social inclusion.
Observers believe the _Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup_ has evolved beyond a football competition into a powerful platform for fostering reconciliation, strengthening inter-ethnic relationships, discovering football talents, and advancing sustainable peace and development in Delta State.
