Host communities urged to maintain peace during football tournament

Host Communities of the Oil Mining Lease (OML-58) in Rivers State have been urged to maintain peace in order to attract the needed development to their areas

Executive Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies, Obi Imemba, made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2026 NNPC/TEPNG JV OML-58 annual football tournament for host communities at the Obite Civic Centre in the Ogba/Egbema/Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Imemba, who was represented by TotalEnergies Manager, Stakeholder Management, Mr Henry Ehuike, also called on the leadership of host communities to influence more youths to shun pipeline destruction, drug abuse and other social vices.

He said the competition, which began in 2002, is one of the ways the NNPC-TPNG joint venture promotes inclusiveness and fosters harmonious relationships among youths of its host communities, bringing them together, thereby promoting peace and unity.

The Executive Director, JV Asset, said the tournament has lived up to expectations as the greatest sporting event in the OML 58 area and in the whole of ONELGA.

“In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 4, which speaks about quality education, the NNPC/TotalEnergies joint venture is determined to further develop true quality professional football training combined with rigorous academic exercise in one of the best football academies in Nigeria for the best talents that would be identified in this competition,” Imemba said.

He noted that the continued sponsorship of the competition in the PIA area is a demonstration of the NNPC-TPNG joint venture’s love for the youths of its operating communities, and a commitment to engaging them in positive ventures that could promote sustainable socio-economic development, as well as empowerment.

He revealed that since the 19th edition in 2022, the joint venture has progressively introduced some areas of improvement with the aim of making the communities derive the best from the competition.

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“Permit me to announce to you that in this 23rd edition, there is no single over-age player. All the players are 18 years old and below”, he said.

Imemba mentioned that the services of talent hunters were contracted in the last two years to identify good potential among the players, stating that five players were discovered and are undergoing training in professional football in an academy.

“This year, we have also contracted the services of a football marketer who will market the discovered talents to football clubs,” he said.

He commended the participating youths and host communities, central, local and technical organising committees, the River State Football Association, the River State Football Referee’s Council and media partners, for their commitment to the tournament.

“My advice to the participating team is that you should not be preoccupied with winning. Rather, focus on playing for peace and promoting talent and development,” he said.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mbakwe Elele, stated that the tournament has been fostering peace within the OML58 host communities and, as well, identifying talent.

No fewer than 18 teams are participating in the tournament.