In the good old days, when life in the great clan of Nsu was modest, beautiful and natural, love reigned supreme without recognizing any barrier among the people of Nsu.
It was pleasantly good that umu Nsulebichi lived together in unity, for they all live with the objective of being happy. Though they lived their lives in different and peculiar ways but yet, they lived the same in one accord.
Alas! the beauty of modernization and dynamism of
civilization came with its own corrosion on our cherished values. Things have become seemingly different. Disunity crept in, created artificial gap and unhealthy rivalry in Nsu- community once known for its strength as a bunch.
Like the title of the legendary Chinua Achebe book, things has fallen apart.
But thank Goodness that most sons and daughters of Nsulebichi, operating at different spheres of life who are imbued with uncommon creative energies and innovative abilities, are working round the clock to recreate the beauty, unity and love that bounded Nsu as one indivisible entity attracted respect and awe by communities far and near.
One of such initiatives to recover and revitalize the slipping Nsu was taken by a dynamic young man from the great Umuduru Nsu community, who beyond words, has demonstrated his unequivocal love for the people. Mr Stanley Chimobi Ndubuisi and his beloved wife, Mrs Blessing Ndubuisi (SB). This emerging star from Nsu clan is blessed with immeasurable passion to foster sense of unity and togetherness. To achieve this, he deployed the magic wand of the round leather game aimed at bringing Nsu people together to a shared joy, excitement and celebration as it was in the old.
Stanley Chimobi and Blessing (SB) have instituted StanBless Unity Cup 2024/2025 football competition (Nsu Cup), with the theme: Unity the Best for Nsu. He recognized football as a pre-eminent global sport with unimaginable power to unify, hence the theme of the tournament is very apt.
The competition which started few months ago and currently at the conclusion stage, brings together the traditional 8 villages in Nsu to keenly contested mouth watering prizes in football, in the mould never witnessed before in Nsu.
It must be emphasize that the underlying goal for instituting the tournament amongst others is to engender unity and restore the love lost that seemed to have festered following the recent unfortunate event in Nsu where none state actors set ablaze private buildings and the structure of Open University located at the serene Nsu Community; a sad event that almost pitched one against the other.
StanBless Unity Cup therefore serves as
a soothing balm applied at the right time to heal a maturating wound.
Kudos must however be given to past Nsu patriots who threaded the path similitude to entrenching peace through sports, but Mr Stanley Chimobi Ndubuisi and wife’s (SB) intervention was quite timely, strategic and with a huge bang, particularly coming at a time the harsh economic condition, youth restiveness, rooted acrimony have aggravated resentments and highlighted the things that separate umu Nsulebichi rather than the things that bind them.
Truly, the on-going Nsu Unity Cup has blurred the lines of differences among Nsu youths, created strong sense of community, making each village feel belong. The excitement of winning and the sadness of losing obviously unites the people. Like Gandhi would say, “unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking”.
Mention must also be made that the endorsement and tacit support given to StanBless Unity Cup 2024/2025 by Nsu Community Elite Congress (NcEC) a None-for-Profit, Nsu Community global network, was the real game changer, the icing on the cake, a boost to the validation of the celebrated tournament.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Stanley Chimobi Ndubuisi is himself a member of the Nsu Community Elite Congress. As already in the public domain, the President of NcEC, Sir Basil Ojukwu, a man of immense prowess, value and creativity has moved NcEC to the highest pedestal since he assumed office.
Typical of him and in his knack for the best, he did not hesitate to append his signature to the competition, an approval that has now moved the tournament to a high positive level.
The unprecedented empowerment initiatives for Nsu youths, human capacity building, social reengineering of the great clan and many other sundry developmental project of NcEC under the direct supervision of Sir Basil Ojukwu, are better left for discussion on another day.
But suffice to say that the huge success recorded so far by StanBless Unity Cup Competition, as in
most thriving
projects that uplift Nsu people, got the traction, participation and endorsement of Sir Basil Ojukwu led
NcEC.
As the curtain is gradually drawn on the StanBless Unity Cup, let us not forget the inherent lesson thereof-“alone we can do so little, together we can do much”.
Ifeanyi Onyekachi
Public Affairs Analyst
Phn: 08034453068.