By: Shuaib Nasir (Intern)
The Play With Kwara Youths (PWKY) has expanded the scope of games for its sixth edition, adding more sporting and intellectual activities to broaden participation and deepen youth engagement across Kwara State.
In a text of the press conference made available to TheQuickPR and delivered by PWKY spokesperson, Basheer Luqman Olarewaju (Unique), said the sixth edition will hold under the theme, “Kwara First: Putting Unity Above Political Differences,” with emphasis on strengthening friendship and peaceful coexistence among young people irrespective of their political affiliations.
Luqman disclosed that PWKY 6.0 will feature football, table tennis, ludo, scrabble and whot, alongside other side attractions. He added that the Special Team category has been rebranded as “Brain Battle,” an intellectual game designed to test participants’ knowledge and mental agility while remaining integrated under the conventional team structure.
According to him, the expansion reflects the steady growth of PWKY from a modest gathering of about 45 participants at its inception four years ago to a youth platform that recorded more than 500 registrations at its last edition.
He explained that the initiative was conceived by its convener, Yusuf Mutiu Olaitan, popularly known as Young Sturaro, ahead of the 2023 political season, when political tension was rising across the state.
Luqman said the idea was anchored on the belief that sports could bridge political and social differences and provide a common platform where young people could interact without allowing partisan interests to damage existing relationships.
From about 45 participants at the maiden edition, he said participation rose to about 100 in the second edition, 200 in the third and more than 300 in the fourth before crossing the 500-registration mark at the fifth edition.
Speaking on the theme of PWKY 6.0, Luqman said “Kwara First: Putting Unity Above Political Differences” was deliberately chosen in view of increasing political activities ahead of another election season.
“With the political drums once again beating across the land, the theme for this year’s edition could not be more apt, timely or urgent: Kwara First: Putting Unity Above Political Differences,” he said.
He stressed that political office holders and political parties may change, but Kwara remains a common heritage that must be protected above partisan differences.
The PWKY spokesperson consequently urged young people not to allow themselves to become instruments of political hostility, but to embrace tolerance, sportsmanship and mutual respect.
“Let us kick out hate speech, dribble past bigotry and score massive goals for peace, progress and youth empowerment,” Luqman said.
He noted that the sustained growth of PWKY over the years had been made possible through the support of philanthropists and leaders from different political, religious and social backgrounds who share the vision of promoting unity among Kwara youths.
With participation increasing and the scope of the games expanding, Luqman called on corporate organisations, philanthropists, institutions and public-spirited individuals to support PWKY 6.0 through sponsorship and partnership.
He said such support would enable the initiative to accommodate more participants, strengthen the newly expanded games and provide a bigger platform for young people to interact peacefully across political and social divides.
“As we formally roll out the drums for PWKY 6.0, the doors of participation, partnership and support are wide open to everyone who believes in the Kwara project,” he said.
Luqman reaffirmed PWKY’s commitment to promoting unity and friendship among young people, maintaining that political differences should never be allowed to weaken the bonds that hold the state together.
PC: Trove Online Media
