By Nelson Egware
In societies fractured by history, land disputes and lingering mistrust, peace is rarely restored by proclamations alone. It often grows quietly, nurtured through shared experiences that remind people of their common identity. In Delta State’s Isoko Nation, one such experience has emerged through an unlikely but powerful platform: football.
The 2025 final of the UNR Isoko Unity Cup was more than a sporting event. It was a symbolic gathering that underscored how sustained community engagement can heal old wounds and foster lasting peace. The presence of the Ovie of Igbide Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Patrick Okpomo Agre I, alongside his Emede Kingdom counterpart, His Royal Majesty Johnson Egbo (Ewhiri II), recently called to the Nigerian Bar, spoke volumes. For years, both kingdoms were locked in bitter communal conflicts over land ownership, disputes that stretched across decades and left scars on relationships and development.
Although the crisis was recently resolved through the intervention of the Isoko Nation and the Delta State Government, the sight of both monarchs arriving together at the Unity Cup final marked a profound moment. It demonstrated that peace, once carefully nurtured, can move from paper agreements into lived reality.
The UNR Isoko Unity Cup was established in 2015 by the Umeh Need Road Forum (UNR), a pan-Isoko social media advocacy group, as a deliberate peace-building initiative. The maiden edition was hosted at the James Welch Grammar School field in Emevor, with subsequent tournaments held in Olomoro, Ozoro, Oleh and Oyede. Like many communal activities, the competition was paused during the COVID-19 years, but its return has been both timely and impactful.
The 2025 final, held under the distinguished chairmanship of the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, and attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor and Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Joshua Oborevwori, represented a culmination of years of quiet effort. It was a reminder that peace is not an event, but a process and one that requires patience, sincerity and consistent management.
Speaking during a brief reception at the palace of the Ovie of Igbide Kingdom, Dr Emu described Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as a peace-loving leader who places premium value on harmony in all situations. According to him, lasting peace must be objective, sincere and properly managed, noting that fragile peace, if not carefully handled, can easily collapse.
“The peace that has brought us here today is a permanent one, and it shall remain permanent,” he said, emphasizing that the gathering was not a mere social visit, but a deliberate mission to consolidate unity in Isoko Nation.
Dr Emu also highlighted the role of objectivity in conflict resolution, commending Chief Uzor for setting aside personal relationships in the interest of fairness and justice. He stressed that Isoko unity holds strategic importance not only for Delta State but for the nation at large, adding that the more united Isoko becomes, the more it can contribute meaningfully to national development.
Indeed, the Unity Cup has grown beyond football into a platform for dialogue, reconciliation and collective pride. Its widening embrace, supported by the chairmen of Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Councils, reflects a shared understanding that peace thrives when political leaders, traditional institutions and civil society work together.
Among the early arrivals at the event was the Majority Whip of the Delta State House of Assembly and Member representing Isoko North State Constituency, Hon. Bernard Odior, who performed the ceremonial kick-off for the female competition. Accompanied by the Chief Administrator of the Umeh Need Road Forum, Chief Duncan Afahokor, and members of the Central and Local Organising Committees, the lawmaker praised the UNR initiative, describing it as a visionary peace project that continues to unite the Isoko people.
Hon. Odior also commended the Delta State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh, an illustrious son of Igbide Kingdom, for his remarkable contributions to the success of the hosting, describing his role as an act of true statesmanship.
In his remarks, Chief Obiodeh described the tournament as successful, having achieved its core objective of unity. He expressed gratitude to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his commitment to peace and development across Isoko Nation and Delta State.
The ceremony, which had Chief Obiodeh as Chief Host alongside the Chairmen of Isoko South and Isoko North Local Government Councils, Hon. Warri Ovoke Friday and Hon. Godwin Ogorugba, drew an impressive array of leaders and stakeholders. Among them were Chief Barr. Mike Edegware, Director General of Revenue Monitoring and Audit, Delta State; and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Media, Dr Nelson Egware, who also serves as a co-administrator of the Umeh Need Road Forum.
The Isoko South male and female teams emerged victorious at this year’s tournament, with the female side edging their Isoko North counterparts by a lone goal, while the male teams battled to a goalless draw at the end of regulation time before Isoko South triumphed on penalties.
Cultural expression added colour and depth to the occasion, with a special dance presentation by the Abame Cultural Dance Troupe of Igbide, reinforcing the message that culture and tradition can be powerful tools for unity when properly harnessed.
The success of the 2025 Unity Cup was also made possible through generous donations from individuals and institutions committed to peace. Notably, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh donated ₦5 million as prize money, while support also came from the chairmen of Isoko North and Isoko South councils, Hon. Chief Etugbo Godcase Alfred, Hon. Engr. Jonathan Ukodhiko, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, Hon. Chief Victor Last Mugu Egbo, Barr. Chief Mike Edegware, Hon. Chief Itiako Ikpokpo, Hon. Chief Ferguson Ajiroghene Onwo, Hon. Bernard Odior, Hon. Bino Owhede, Hon. and Mrs. Mike Ogwah, and Tantita Security Services, among others.
Beyond the cheers, trophies and celebrations, the UNR Isoko Unity Cup stands as a quiet lesson in grassroots peacebuilding. It shows that unity is not imposed; it is built match by match, handshake by handshake, community by community. In a nation often grappling with divisions, the Isoko example offers a compelling reminder: when people choose dialogue, shared values and inclusive platforms, peace can move from aspiration to reality.
