By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace sports as a powerful tool for personal development, social cohesion and national security, describing it as a viable pathway to building a safer and more prosperous nation.
The call was made at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the CDS Under-15 Boys Football Championship, which kicked off on 15 December 2025 at the Sharks Football Club Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The development was disclosed in an official statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.
Represented at the event by the Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, the CDS explained that the championship was conceived to unite communities, promote healthy competition and inculcate essential life skills such as teamwork, discipline and resilience among young Nigerians.
He noted that beyond its sporting value, the tournament was designed as a strategic non-kinetic initiative to strengthen civil–military relations by positively engaging youths in a spirit of sportsmanship, mutual respect and togetherness. According to him, the championship is also intended to stimulate youths’ interest in football as a legitimate means of livelihood, thereby discouraging unwholesome behaviour, youth restiveness and social vices that undermine national security.
General Oluyede said the six-day tournament was structured to promote unity and social cohesion among participating teams drawn from the South-South and South-East regions. The participating states include Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Edo from the South-South, as well as Abia and Imo States from the South-East. He stressed that positively engaging young people through sports plays a critical role in complementing security efforts by steering them away from crime and negative influences.
The CDS reaffirmed that the initiative aligns with the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s broader strategy of youth empowerment, talent development and character 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, and also commended the Rivers State Government and Greater Heights Global Sports Development Limited for their support in making the championship a reality.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Babatunde Phillips, said the tournament was designed to provide a platform for young talents to showcase their skills, inspire excellence and foster growth, unity and brotherhood among participants.
He explained that the competition seeks to empower youths to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s sports development, particularly at a time when the country faces challenges such as insecurity, drug abuse and social dislocation. He added that the championship reflects the CDS’s commitment to grassroots sports development and talent identification, while instilling values of integrity, resilience, discipline and unity.
Air Vice Marshal Phillips urged all participating teams to shun unhealthy rivalry, compete with courage, respect the rules of the tournament and uphold the principles of fair play throughout the competition.
The opening match of the championship saw the Rivers Military Team defeat the Delta Military Team by two goals to nil. The tournament is scheduled to climax with the final match on 20 December 2025.
