By Amaechi Agbo
Organizers of the Renewed Hope Unity Cup Football Competition on Wednesday held an investiture ceremony at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja to make the President of Nigeria Football Federation and President of WAFU-B zone, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON as patron of the competition.
The investiture was performed by Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, a former NFF Executive Committee Member, two-term Member of the House of Representatives and current Chairman of the Plateau State Football Association. Hon. Yahaya-Kwande is also the National Coordinator and Director of Cornerflag Connection Ltd.
The visit was a strategic effort aimed at garnering additional backing and fostering collaboration for the highly anticipated 2026 Renewed Hope Unity Cup competition. The meeting concentrated on strengthening partnerships and galvanising support for the national youth empowerment, unity, and talent development initiative.
The Renewed Hope Unity Cup is a pioneering competition designed to involve all 774 Local Government Areas across Nigeria, uniting young Nigerians through the influence of sport. Hon. Kwande, who is spearheading the initiative, introduced the project with a decisive statement, branding it “À Goal Nigeria,” which he characterised as a straightforward directive: “Asiwaju Go On And Lead Nigeria.”
He highlighted that the competition transcends merely discovering football talent, as it also aims to establish a platform for youth empowerment, fostering unity, and contributing to national development.
Responding, Gusau described the competition as a “noble initiative” which is fully in tandem with the mission of the present NFF administration to develop football from the grassroots. “This is a welcome idea, and I am excited to be a patron of the initiative. As the football-governing body in the country, the NFF will play an active role and watch keenly for those exceptional talents that can break into the various National Teams through the competition.”
