NEDC Adamawa Wraps Up 1st Edition 2026 Football Tournament In Adamawa
By Mohammed Ibrahim
The North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Adamawa State branch has successfully wrapped up the maiden 2026 Football Tournament in Yola, an initiative designed to promote peace, unity, social cohesion and productive youth engagement across Adamawa State.
The tournament commenced on Sunday, 30th August, 2026 at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, with teams drawn from the Central Zone of Adamawa State. Over the past days, the competition provided a vibrant platform for young athletes to showcase talent while building friendships across communities.
Speaking at the grand finale held on Saturday, 5th September, 2026, the State Coordinator, Barr. Khalifa M. Lawan, said the tournament is in line with one of NEDC’s core mandates of restoring normalcy, promoting peaceful coexistence and empowering youths in the North-East region.
“Sports remains one of the most effective tools for engaging young people productively, discovering talents and building bridges across communities that are still recovering from the effects of insurgency,” Barr. Lawan stated.
He stressed that the competition was conceived beyond the pursuit of trophies, noting that its primary goal was to create an enabling environment for interaction, mutual understanding and reconciliation among youths from different backgrounds.
“This tournament is not just about winning. It is about unity, tolerance, discipline and giving our youths a sense of belonging. When young people are positively engaged, we are building safer and more resilient communities,” he said.
Barr. Lawan, who presented trophies, medals and other prizes to the winning teams and outstanding players, commended all participants for their sportsmanship, teamwork and commitment throughout the tournament. He assured that NEDC will continue to support initiatives that promote youth development, health and community resilience.
The final match attracted dignitaries including representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Adamawa State Branch, sports officials, community stakeholders and hundreds of enthusiastic youths who thronged the FCE Yola stadium to witness the closing ceremony.
In attendance were former NEDC Board Member, Ekechukwu A., and Alh. Usman Halilu Ahmed, Principal Manager, Branch Operations HQ, Maiduguri, Borno State, among many other dignitaries who participated in the event.
The NEDC Adamawa State branch reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining youth-focused programmes that advance reconciliation, livelihood opportunities, peace and resilience across the North-East, in partnership with development partners, government agencies and relevant stakeholders.
The successful conclusion of the 1st Edition 2026 Football Tournament marks another milestone in NEDC’s effort to use sports and community engagement as tools for healing and development in the North-East.
