The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ) Oyo State Council, are set to organise the maiden edition of the Oyo State Labour Unity Cup.
The state NLC chairman, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, while speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a press conference held at the NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, said the competition was put together in order to promote unity among workers in the state.
He maintained that the main objective of the competition was to foster unity between the two labour unions so as to ensure cordial relationship among the formal and informal sectors of the economy in the state.
Also speaking, the state TUC Secretary, Comrade Mayowa Falagbe, said the competition was initiated to proffer solution to terrorism, disunity among workers in the state, stating that sports remained the only major unifying factor in Nigeria.
He said, “Religion, ethnicity, and politics have failed us, that is why we think of an effective way of bringing our members together in order to entertain and promote unity.”
The state NUJ chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola, noted that the competition would bring unity to the pace setter state and all the workers across the state.
He said, “this is the first time workers in this state from both formal and informal sector of the economy will come together to organize a football competition to foster unity.”
The CEO, Nito Sports, who is coordinating the competition, Mr. Debo Adeoye, said no player would be allowed to participate without having jersey, boot and guard.
“Every participating team should commence training after this press conference, the format of this competition will be determined by the number of teams that registered and there will be medical examination of each player before the competition,” he said.
