The maiden edition of the Seyi Tinubu Basketball Tournament has ended in Jos, the Plateau State capital with the Dogon Dutse Warriors defeating Tuddun Wada Lakers to emerge champions.
The basketball championship was held to help promote unity and foster peaceful co-existence in the local communities in the state that have been ravaged by crisis.
The event was also meant to empower citizens through sports development.
Seyi Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Auwal Ibrahim, expressed gratitude for the success recorded in hosting the competition, noting that the tournament has a meaningful impact on the local community.
“Plateau State is gradually regaining its former glory as the home of peace and tourism, and this tournament is a testament to the potentials of the state.
“We must all continue to work together to sustain this progress. Sports as we have seen today, is an incredible unifying factor and can help build bridges in our society. This is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda of unifying the nation through sports and youth inclusiveness.
“We must recognise that sports has the power to bring people together, regardless of their background or beliefs. I also want to use this opportunity to thank President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership.
“This is exactly what our youths need—a platform to showcase their talents and come together as one. In the end, the Seyi Tinubu Basketball Championship proved to be a resounding success.
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“It demonstrated the transformative power of sports and served as a reminder of the role that unity, teamwork and dedication play in achieving greatness, both on and off the court,” he said.
Mallo Bokkos, the manager of the Dogon Dutse Warriors, congratulated the winning team for emerging victorious at the tournament.
“This win is a result of the hard work and dedication of every single player in this team. We’ve been working toward this moment for a long time, and to see it finally come to fruition is an incredible feeling,” Bokkos said.
Ramatu Diallo, assistant captain of the Tudun Wada Lakers, who accepted the runners-up prize on behalf of her team, said that “it’s disappointing to come so close to victory, but we gave it our best. This competition has taught us valuable lessons and we’ll be back next year, stronger and more determined.”
The champions, Dogon Dutse Warriors received a cash prize of N3million, while N2million went to the runners-up, Tudun Wada Lakers.