By Andrew Abah, Abuja
The National Coordinator and Convener of the Renewed Hope Unity Cup, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, has said that the tournament, as a transformative grassroots football initiative, is designed to empower young Nigerians, promote national unity and discover the next generation of football stars.
Speaking during the unveiling of the tournament’s official logo at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Wednesday, Kwande said the competition would make history as the first football championship to feature teams from all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Unity Cup is more than a sporting event, but a national movement aimed at fostering peace, youth development, social inclusion and economic growth through football.
“The National Renewed Hope Unity Cup is more than a football competition. It is a national movement that seeks to unite Nigerians, discover hidden talents, empower young people and strengthen grassroots football across the country.”
Kwande noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by investing in youth development, encouraging community participation and promoting healthy lifestyles.
He disclosed that every participating local government team would be provided with football equipment, including jerseys, boots, footballs, training bibs and other essential kits, while players and officials would receive welfare support, insurance where applicable and match allowances.
A major legacy of the tournament, he said, will be the implementation of a nationwide Train-the-Trainer Programme, under which selected coaches from each of the 774 Local Government areas will receive technical education and coaching certification under the supervision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and other technical partners.
Kwande said the programme would establish a nationwide network of qualified grassroots coaches to identify and nurture football talents across the country.
Beyond football, he stressed that the initiative would equip young Nigerians with leadership, discipline, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills while stimulating local economies through increased activities in transportation, tourism, hospitality, sports marketing and event management.
Also speaking, the National Sports Commission (NSC), represented by its Director of Facilities, Dr. Mohammed Rabiu, pledged the Commission’s support for the initiative.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, described grassroots football as the foundation of sustainable sports development and commended the organisers for creating a platform capable of producing future national stars.
He also applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as unprecedented support for the sports sector, particularly in the area of sports infrastructure and facility maintenance.
The two-month competition is scheduled to commence on October 1, 2026, simultaneously across all 774 Local Government Areas, with winners progressing through state, zonal and geopolitical stages before the national champion is crowned
