The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja pledged to use sports as a tool to promote peace and unity among youths in the country.

Mr Jude Imagwe, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Matters, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that his office would initiate a programme, tagged “Nigeria Youth and Students: Sports Development for Peace Project” by May.

According to him, sports are tools that can unite the country and the government is ready to promote what will unite the youths at all levels and across the nation.

“Basically, the sports development and peace project is what Nigerians should imbibe.

“Nigerians should concentrate on things that can unite us, things that can bring us and keep us together like sports,” he said.

“The promotion of peace and unity in the country should be seen as collective effort of all in order to protect and build the nation.

“There is no sport that is an individual effort, it is usually collective effort from the players to the coaches and even to the spectators.

“That is how peace project in Nigeria should also be built,” Imagwe said.

He said sports were the only activities that would not bring discrimination, tribalism or racism rather, they bring everyone together in love and unity.

According to him, whatever we can do to win back love, unity and togetherness in this country, people should do them.

He said in May the sports for peace project would start with zonal competition in the six geopolitical zones to mark the International Youth Day celebration.

Imagwe said the grand finale of the competition would hold on Aug.12 in Abuja, adding that government would collaborate with stakeholders to engage the youths. (NAN)