Delta Peace Advocate Mulade Unveils N50m Grassroots Initiative, Launches LOC for Ethnic Peace Cup

The Convener of the 2026 Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has inaugurated a 25-member Local Organizing Committee for the tournament, which is aimed at promoting peace, unity, and youth empowerment across Delta State.

Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday in Delta State, the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, said the competition will bring together the state’s seven major ethnic nationalities through football while promoting cultural integration and peaceful coexistence.

Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, said the tournament is more than a football event, describing it as a grassroots peacebuilding initiative designed to break ethnic barriers and build trust among young people.

He announced that the competition, themed “One in All,” will feature Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-20 categories with multi-million naira prizes for winners to encourage participation and talent development.

The peace advocate charged members of the LOC, chaired by former Delta State Football Association Chairman, to work with transparency and commitment, while former Super Eagles player Edema Fuludu serves as adviser for the tournament.

Chief Mulade also called on traditional rulers, government agencies, corporate bodies, and development partners to support the initiative, saying peaceful coexistence is key to attracting investment and development to Delta State.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the unveiling and inspection of football kits for participating ethnic teams, as organizers expressed confidence that the 2026 Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup will become a major platform for promoting the message of “One Delta, One People, One Victory.”