Authorities of University of Jos yesterday flagged off the maiden edition of UniJos Annual Peace Sports Championship, a two-week tournament which the university said it has designed for all tertiary institutions in Plateau State to promote peaceful coexistence among the youths.

Explaining the concept of the championship, initiator and Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Hayward Mafuyai said, “The competition is organised to bring youths from all backgrounds to tell the entire nation that we are peace ambassadors, that we put our differences aside and celebrate peace.”

Institutions to compete for honours in football (Male), Basket ball (male & female) and Volley ball (male & female) are Federal College of Forestry, Jos; Plateau State University, Bokkos; College of Health, Pankshin; Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS); Jos Study Centre of National Open University of Nigeria; Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi; College of Education, Gindiri; College of Health, Zawan; Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Bukuru; and the host institution, UniJos.

The opening game, a football match between University of Jos and Plateau State University kicked off at 4pm yesterday at Jeremiah Useni Mini Stadium of the Naraguta Campus of University of Jos, venue of the championship.