CDS CHAMPIONS YOUTH SPORTS AS PATHWAY TO UNITY, SECURITY AND PROSPERITY

Nigeria’s quest for a safer and more prosperous future received a youthful boost in Port Harcourt as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, urged young Nigerians to embrace sports as a powerful tool for personal growth, social cohesion and national security. The CDS made this call at the opening ceremony of the maiden CDS Under-15 Boys Football Championship, held on 15th December 2025 at the Sharks Football Club Stadium, Rivers State.

In a statement released by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the CDS described the championship as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, designed to unite communities, promote healthy competition and instil vital life skills such as teamwork, discipline and resilience among young people across the country.

Represented at the event by the Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, General Oluyede explained that the tournament goes beyond football. It is part of a broader civil–military engagement initiative aimed at strengthening mutual trust, understanding and respect between the Armed Forces and the civilian population, particularly the youth, through the unifying language of sports.

According to the CDS, the championship also seeks to position football as a legitimate pathway for livelihood and self-empowerment, thereby steering young people away from social vices, restiveness and other behaviours that threaten national stability. He noted that positive youth engagement remains a critical non-kinetic approach to addressing security challenges in the country.

The six-day tournament brings together teams from the South-South states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Edo, alongside Abia and Imo states from the South East, reinforcing the championship’s emphasis on unity, inclusion and regional integration.

General Oluyede further affirmed that the initiative aligns with the Armed Forces’ long term strategy on youth empowerment, talent development and nation building. He expressed appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his sustained commitment to youth development and national security, while also commending the Rivers State Government and Greater Heights Global Sports Development Limited for their support.

Earlier, the Director of Sports at Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Babatunde Phillips, noted that the championship provides a platform for young talents to showcase their skills, inspire excellence and build lasting bonds of brotherhood. He added that the initiative responds to pressing societal challenges such as insecurity and drug abuse by offering youths constructive alternatives and positive role models.

The opening fixture set the tone for the competition, with the Rivers Military Team securing a 2–0 victory over the Delta Military Team. The championship is expected to climax with a grand finale on 20th December 2025, celebrating not just footballing talent, but the promise of a more united and secure Nigeria.