Liman Abaji Ward Emerges Champions of Dujima Keffi Inter-ward Football Tournament

By Amaechi Agbo

A grassroots football competition organized in celebration of the third anniversary of Engr. Muhammad Nuraini Adamu as the Dujiman Keffi, has ended in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, with Liman Abaji Electoral Ward beating hard-fighting Iya Ward 1 by a lone goal to be crowned the maiden Champions.
In the third-place play-off, Gangaren Tudun Ward defeated Yara Ward 2-1.
The new winners were rewarded with 200,000.00 Naira as prize money. The Runners-up went home with 150,000.00 Naira while the third-place winners got 100,000.00 Naira.
The other seven Electoral Wards got 30,000.00 Naira each.
The Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Highest Goalscorer, got one 50kg bag of milled rice and a pair of boots with the match officials getting 50,000.00 respectively from the sponsor of the competition, Engr. Muhammad Nuraini Adamu.
The tournament witnessed massive turnout of dignitaries and spectators at the Keffi Township Stadium, on Sunday, 23rd June, 2024.
The ten Electoral Wards that make up Keffi Local Government Area participated in the competition that started on 5th June, 2024.
The sponsor, Engr. Muhammad Nuraini Adamu, disclosed the rationale behind staging the competition.
“This competition is organized to celebrate my third anniversary as the Dujiman Keffi, a traditional title conferred on me by His Royal Highness, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa(COON) 111, the Emir of Keffi, and Chairman, Keffi Traditional Council of Chiefs.
“So, my friends, family and I decided to join other well-wishers to celebrate this great occasion through sport.
“This is a means of engendering peace, unity and progress of our immediate community and the inhabitants.
“Though this is the first edition of this competition, but a lot of good-spirited individuals have approached me to make this an annual event. We are cross-checking this suggestion as we look forward to ensuring higher standard organization of the competition that would see that there is a seamless transition to the next phase.”
He congratulated the winners and participating teams for the excellent display of talents and support to the success of the competition, while also thanking the Organizing Committee Members of the Tournament headed by Musa Mohammed Maudi for ensuring a successful event.
The Dujiman Keffi also congratulated Nasarawa United for securing promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, urging the team to sustain the tempo in the elite league to justify the commitment and support of Governor Abdullahi Sule on it.
Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Nasarawa State Chapter, Comr. Ja’afar Mohammed Loko, was full of appreciation to the sponsor and organizers for initiating the competition.
“This is both beautiful and marvelous. You can see the large turnout of people from all walks of life, a vast majority of whom are young people with so much to offer through sport. This further shows the respect and regards they have for the sponsor, the Dujiman Keffi, Engr. Muhammad Nuraini Adamu.
“We have seen the numerous advantages that accompany the organization of this grassroots football competition, spanning from unity, collaboration, integration and peaceful coexistence, and as the biggest umbrella body for youth in the State, we feel challenged.
“We are keying into this laudable initiative to also organise the NYCN Inter-Local Government Area Grassroots Football Tournament before the end of this year.
“Already, we have begun preliminary discussions with relevant Organisations like the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Nasarawa State Football Association, among others, to stage a historic tournament.”
Among dignitaries who attended the grand finale of the competition were Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Khalid Danjuma; Aide to Governor Abdullahi Sule, Hon. Kawu Badamasi; Vice Chairman, Nasarawa State Football Association, Ibrahim Adamu Shigarfata; Alh. Mahmdudu Sidi Tela, Chairman, Keffi Local Government Football Association; and District Head of Sabon Garin Keffi, Shagari Lawal.