With 19 days to kick-off, the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the 3rd Edition of the Senate President National Under-18 Unity Cup, Dr. Mike Uyi, has expressed excitement over the overwhelming interest the tournament has generated amongst football academies and clubs across the federation.
Dr. Uyi, who spoke in Uyo yesterday after a strategic meeting of the MOC, said the committee is overwhelmed by calls from top academies and grassroots clubs who want to be part of the national youth fiesta scheduled for Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, 25th October to 1st November, 2026.
According to him, “For this 3rd Edition, we are hosting 24 States, both male and female categories, but from the next edition, the tournament will be thrown open to all clubs and academies in the entire country. Our emphasis remains youth empowerment through sports, especially football.”
Dr. Uyi thanked the President of the 10th Senate and Chief Host, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Dr. Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, for his uncommon passion for grassroots sports development, noting that the Senate President has in strong terms exhibited his desire to use football as a means for economic empowerment of Nigerian youths.
Dr. Uyi further disclosed that the kick-off ceremony on 25th October at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium will be a gathering of football legends and icons, as Tournament Ambassadors and Ex-Internationals including Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON – former Golden Eaglets World Cup-winning Coach, Joseph Yobo – former Super Eagles Captain, Akarandut Nicodemus Orok and other respected ambassadors will be live to inspire the young talents.
In a related development, Dr. Uyi disclosed that renowned football scout, Chief Paul Ojo Omamome, has confirmed his presence and will take some quality players discovered during the tournament for trials abroad.
In his own remarks, the National President of Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF) and Tournament Coordinator, Hon. John Bassey Ekpenyong, expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, for his giant strides in sports development and for the successful hosting of the just-concluded Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.
Hon. Ekpenyong noted that as organizers of the Pastor Umo Eno Easter Under-17 Unity Cup, GRASOF has witnessed first-hand the Governor’s deliberate investment in grassroots sports as a vehicle for youth engagement and peace building.
“GRASOF as a Federation aligns fully with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ARISE Agenda of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno in using sports to create jobs, curb restiveness and empower our youths. Football is not just a game, it is economy,” Hon. Ekpenyong stated.
The tournament is organised by GRASOF in collaboration with the Office of the President of the Senate.
