Ighalo, Victor Moses, Oboabona endorsed sports for hope on UN day

Nigerian players have endorsed a football match intended to give back to the society in Abuja.

Super Eagles players, Odion Ighalo of Watford; Victor Moses of West Ham and Godfrey Oboabona of Rizespor in the Turkish league have thrown their support behind the football event organized with the intention of giving hope to the Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria. 

IDPs are the people who have been forced to flee their homes by the Boko Haram insurgents - they are scattered all over the federation in settlements provided for them by the federal government.

The event will take place in Abuja on April 6 at the Gongola Settlement for the IDPs and it is expected to be top-notch that will showcase Nigerians and people from the diplomatic communities donating gifts to the people.  

A football match between the IDPs and a selected side will be staged on that day, this however will involve both the Male and Female.

In a statement by the organiser, Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello an award-winning Nigerian journalist, she said the event is aimed at using sports for development and to give back:

“Sports is a universal language which can be used to make a lot of change in the world, we aim at using this event to preach a message of hope to the IDPS and show them that we love them and to also assure them that, they have not been forgotten.”

“April 6 is a UN day on sports for peace and development and we have decided to take a message to the IDPs by reassuring them that all will be okay.”

To commemorate the day, the Nigerian Red cross, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, The Likeminds project, NAIJ.com, Pulse.ng, Hon. Dapo Lam-Adesina, The Nigeria Football Federation, 36 lions football club, Argentine embassy and people from the diplomatic community are partners of the event.

MC of the event is Abuja number one comedian, Godwin Tucker AKA Tripple White