The West Africa Network for Peace Building, WANEP, yesterday donated football wears to the youths of Lunguda and Waja Tribes in Nyuwar Community of Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State to promote peaceful co-existence among them.
Both tribes have been at loggerhead in recent times resulting in violent clashes that had claimed tens of lives and destruction of property worth millions of naira.
WANEP National Network Coordinator, Mrs. Bridget Osakwe represented by Mr. Mohammed Umar Farouk, listed the items donated to include; two sets of 16 Jerseys, two sets of football socks, two balls, two sets of captain bands and whistles, as well as four sets of training bibs for regular training of each of the teams and two sets of goalkeeper jerseys.
Farouk said the choice of football wear was borne out of the proposals made by the youths and women from the Nyuwar community during the various peace dialogues held.
“Each of the two clubs, “Wonders Sparrows” and “Gilengitu FC” of Nyuwar, were a mixture of players from both tribes, so as to strengthen their relations.”
Receiving the items from the representative of WANEP, in Talase, the Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Mr. Garba Umar, who was represented by the Chief Administration Officer, Mr. Adamu Yerima, thanked WANEP and commended the move as a very good step in bringing peace and development to the people in Nyuwar and Balanga Local Government Area as a whole.
The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency represented by the Director and Head, Rescue and Rehabilitation, Mr. Mohammed Garba, said the gesture by WANEP made his organisation the happiest because, with the unity and peace in Nyuwar, Gombe SEMA would have fewer burdens in its hands.