In Northern Nigeria, youth are increasingly turning to sports, such as skating and football, to foster tolerance and peace. Historically, young people have often been exploited as instruments of unrest and crisis during regional conflicts in regions with tribal and religious diversity.
Following the April 2011 presidential election, for example, deadly election-related and communal violence in northern Nigeria left more than 800 people dead, according to Human Rights Watch. The victims were killed in three days of rioting in 12 northern states including Kaduna, and the majority of the perpetrators were youth who are often manipulated into committing violence.
However, a proactive group of youths and peace advocates in Kaduna have now initiated sporting competitions, particularly football, to bring together individuals from various communities and tribes since the last crisis.
These sporting events are proving effective, as youth are gaining a better understanding of each other’s cultures and religions. A notable example of such a competition was a football match organized by peace activists in collaboration with the Kaduna Peace Commission in 2020, following a crisis in Kasuwar Magani of Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
Benjamin Yunana Maigari, one of the organizers, told Peace News Network (PNN), “Sport will go a long way to enhance peace in the country because football, in particular, has no religion, tribe, or sect… Different people come together from different countries to form a team and play a match together.”
He said Immediately after the Kasuwar Magani riot, the football match tagged ‘Football for Unity’ was organized.
Maigari explained, “We formed teams based on the clubs they supported in the European Premier League… The youth were separated into clubs and played a minor champion league without considering religious differences.”
Maigari said the fact that tension was so high in Kasuwar Magani after the riot, yet Christians and Muslims who were fans of European clubs came out to support their teams despite their religious differences, was surprising.
He continued. “Before you knew it, they played together, forgetting that there was even turmoil where Muslims and Christians couldn’t live together in the community.”
The game brought a sense of unity, and after the competition, all the participants gathered for a ‘Peace for Unity’ rally in the community. They walked through the town in their uniforms, playing music, chanting, and singing. Since the football competition, there has been no incident of unrest in the Kasuwar Magani community.
“This shows that football, which is dear to the hearts of the youth, can enhance peace and unity within communities,” Maigari added.
Similarly, Meshach Atuke, another youth community leader from Adara tribe in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State— a community that has witnessed several conflicts in past years— imbibed the culture of organizing Unity Football Match in the middle of 2024.
The match was between youth of different religious and tribal affiliations, and meant to further foster peace in Kajuru Local Government Area and neighboring Chikun LGA. “The reason for organizing the football match was to engage the youth together to sustain the peaceful atmosphere we are enjoying in the area,” Atuke said.
He explained further that, “Kajuru and Chikun are parts of the LGAs with various tribes and religions and had faced riots years back where lives and properties were destroyed.” Meshach invited community leaders and stakeholders to address the participants at the final match on the need to embrace each other as brothers.
“We tried to show the youth that we are united despite our diversity, even though we know there are bad elements among us causing trouble. But the youth in Kajuru and Chikun are still doing fine,” he said.
The aim was to disabuse the minds of individuals who tried to instigate others against each other in the communities. The youth were made to understand that trouble makers don’t usually differentiate their victims based on religion or tribe, so their belonging to different tribes and religions shouldn’t be a reason for them to look at each other with suspicion.
Atuke emphasized that they educate each other not to allow themselves to be used against each other but rather to unite and shame the perpetrators of crises in their communities. “As the youth leader in my community, many youth and stakeholders commended me and even suggested we organize such football games quarterly,” he said.
He expressed happiness in bringing the youth together to enlighten them on the need to embrace peace and unity.
“We also sat and harmonized within ourselves to see how we can further promote peace,” Atuke said.
He advised the government to support football competitions at the state level to foster unity among citizens, especially youth in warring communities.
Kabiru Abdulrahman, popularly known as KB, a skating coordinator in Kaduna, also organizes skating competitions annually to promote peaceful coexistence among youth from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
“I believe skating and sporting activities give youth peace of mind and can promote peace in every society,” Abdulrahman said.
He introduced his skating skills to youths, including children, adults, and females, aiming to bring unity among them.
“I also introduced youth from Sabon Tasha and Gonin Gora— Christian-dominated communities— and other youth from Tudun Wada and other Muslim-dominated areas to skating to foster peace and understanding,” he explained.
Asked what inspired him to organize such a sport to build peace, Kabiru said, “For me, sport gives me joy. Whenever I’m skating, I don’t think of anything negative. Therefore, I want our youth to also engage in sporting activities to avoid smoking, committing crimes, and fighting each other.”
He added, “The only language we understand is skating, which brings unity and peace. Among us skaters, there is no tribalism or religious differences… Our tribe at that moment of the game is skating and our mother is skating. We have our language as skaters in this country, and wherever we see each other, we respect ourselves.”
Abdulrahman explained that skating brings them together and helps them make contacts across the country. He hopes to extend such competitions nationwide and mentioned that they usually receive support from non-governmental organizations but not from the government.
Abdulrahman appealed to youth in Northern Nigeria and the country at large to channel their energy towards engaging in skating or other sporting activities to promote peace in their society.
Another initiative using sports for peace is the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, a non-governmental organization based in Northern Nigeria, founded by Pastor Yohannah Buru. The foundation once organized a 31-kilometer cycling competition for youth in Kaduna state to mark International Faith Harmony Week as declared by the United Nations annually.
According to Pastor Buru, sports are among the most outstanding activities that both young and old, male and female, enjoy and participate in.
“The purpose of organizing the cycling competition was for peace building, better understanding, and peaceful coexistence between the youths from different faiths in the country,” he explained.
He believed that such activities would create more awareness and promote peace in society, which is a necessity and not an option.
“The cyclists that participated are not just Christians and Muslims; they’re both males and females of different teams from different states of the federation coming together to cycle for peace,” he said.
These various sporting events, including football, skating, and cycling, have proven to be effective tools for fostering peace and unity among Nigerian youth. There are those who believe that through continuous support and encouragement, sports can significantly contribute to lasting peace and understanding in communities across Nigeria.
But the question still remains, can these initiatives as demonstrated help bridge the gap between youth from different tribes and religions in Nigeria?
Keywords: Nigeria, sports, youth, peace, peacebuilding, conflict, conflict resolution, football, skating, soccer, Nigerian
Mohammed Ibrahim
Mohammed is a multimedia freelance journalist in Kaduna State, Nigeria. He graduated from the International Institute of Journalism Abuja. In 2016 Mohammed received the Courage in Journalism Award for his investigative reporting, from the Africa Media Development Foundation.
