Mailafia: Critics Won’t Stop My Peace Cup Mission

By Leo Zwanke, Lafia

The organizer of the Mailafia Peace and Unity Football Competition, Yakubu Agabi Mailafia has said he will not be deterred by criticisms over the resources he commits to the annual grassroots football tournament, insisting that his focus remains on creating opportunities for young talents.

Mailafia stated this on Saturday during the draws for the 10th edition of the competition, where he said he derives peace and fulfillment from organizing the tournament because of its contribution to youth development, talent discovery and peaceful coexistence.

He said despite comments by some people that he was wasting his resources on the competition, he remained committed to the initiative because of the opportunities it provides for young footballers.

“People have said that I am wasting my resources in organizing the competition, but I am not perturbed by what they are saying,” Mailafia said.

According to him, his major concern is to ensure that young and talented players are given the opportunity to showcase their abilities and pursue football careers, not only in Nigeria but also abroad.

Mailafia said the competition had continued to enjoy grassroots support, describing it as a platform that has attracted attention beyond Nasarawa State and Nigeria.

“I find peace organizing this competition,” he said, adding that it was “the only competition that carries grassroots support, not just in Nigeria but in Africa.”

He said the tournament was more than a football competition, stressing that it was intended to provide young people with a platform through which their talents could be identified, developed and exposed to opportunities.

Mailafia therefore charged the organizers of the 10th edition to remain committed and focused, urging them to take ownership of the competition and ensure that it was conducted according to acceptable best practices.

“I want the organizers to be committed and focused and see the competition as their own, to take over ownership of the competition and ensure that it is done with the best practice needed,” he said.

The 10th edition of the Mailafia Peace and Unity Football Competition is scheduled to commence on October 10, 2026, with 32 teams drawn from across Nasarawa State expected to participate in the tournament.

Speaking during the draws, President of the Dedere Progressive Mandate Youth, Comrade Aminu Musa Rilwanu, said the exercise was organised to prepare the teams and officials for the commencement of the competition.

Rilwanu said the competition, hosted annually by Mailafia Majinkiran Daddere, had contributed to the discovery and development of football talents at the grassroots.

He said thousands of youths had benefited from the competition at the state, national and international levels, citing Anas, a former Nasarawa United player, as one of the players discovered through the tournament.

According to him, Anas was spotted through the competition and has since progressed in his football career abroad.

Rilwanu said the tournament had therefore continued to serve as a platform for young footballers to demonstrate their abilities and pursue opportunities beyond their communities.

“The draws are to prepare the players and organise for the competition proper,” he said.

He urged all the 32 participating teams to approach the tournament with the spirit of peace and unity, stressing that their participation should contribute to peaceful coexistence among youths across Nasarawa State.

“We urge all the 32 teams from across Nasarawa State to ensure that their participation will bring about unity and peace in the state,” Rilwanu said.

He also called on officials involved in the competition to demonstrate commitment and maintain effective communication throughout the tournament.

Rilwanu said dignitaries from within and outside the state were expected to grace the opening ceremony on October 10, as activities begin for the 10th edition of the competition.

According to verifiable reports, the annual tournament has over the years provided a grassroots platform for young footballers to compete, develop their skills and seek opportunities for progression within and outside Nigeria.