The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has called on youths to leverage sports to build a safer and more prosperous nation. He made the call at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the CDS Under-15 Boys Football Championship at the Sharks Football Club Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on 15 December 2025.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Director Defence Information DDI, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba in Abuja said, The CDS, who was represented by Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, the Chief of Administration Defence Headquarters stated that the championship was aimed at uniting communities, promoting healthy competition, and developing essential life skills such as teamwork and resilience among youths.
Speaking further, he said the championship was also designed to strengthen civil–military cooperation by positively engaging youths in healthy competition while promoting mutual understanding, respect, and togetherness in the spirit of sportsmanship. He added that it would stir youths’ interest in football as a legitimate means of livelihood, with the overall goal of deterring unwholesome behaviour and youth restiveness for improved national security.
He also said the six-day championship, is intended to promote unity and social cohesion amongst teams from the South-South region. These include Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Edo States, as well as Abia and Imo States of the South East. The CDS emphasised that the tournament plays a key non-kinetic role in aiding security efforts, adding that positively engaging youths goes a long way in discouraging social vices.
General Oluyede affirmed that the event aligns with the Armed Forces’ strategy to empower youths, promote discipline, and nurture talents. He thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his commitment to youth empowerment and national security, as well as the Rivers State Government and Greater Heights Global Sports Development Limited for their support towards the realisation of the championship.
Earlier, the Director of Sports at the Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Babatunde Phillips, highlighted the aim of the event, stressing that young prospective talents converged to showcase their skills, foster growth, inspire excellence, and promote mutual cooperation and brotherhood among themselves.He further stated that the tournament seeks to empower youths to contribute to Nigeria’s sports development amid challenges such as insecurity and drug abuse.
The Director of Sports informed that the event also showcases the CDS’s commitment to youth development and grassroots sports, aimed at identifying talents and instilling values such as integrity, resilience, and unity. He therefore urged teams to shun unhealthy rivalry, compete with courage, respect the rules of the championship, and uphold fair play.
The opening match ended 2–0 in favour of the Rivers Military Team (RMT) against the Delta Military Team (DMT). The tournament will climax with the final on 20 December 2025.
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