ACF Vows to Ease Hardship in Northern Nigeria with Over N100b Endowment Fund

ACF Vows to Ease Hardship in Northern Nigeria with Over N100b Endowment Fund

By Adamu IMAM, Bauchi

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has vowed to ease perennial economic hardship bedeviling the northern region through various activities with more than one hundred billion naira (N100b) endowment fund.

The coordinator of the forum's unity football tournament, Honourable Abubakar Sadiq Sa'adu Tsari Fakai, said they organized the tournament as one of the series of events to commemorate the 25th year anniversary celebration in Kaduna state on November 20th and 22nd, 2025.

He stated this while speaking with journalists at the opening matches between northeastern states under-17 football teams holding at the games village, Bauchi, on Sunday. He maintained that ACF is determined to address some of Nigeria's problems associated with Nigerian youth, particularly insecurity, and open up business opportunities through sports activities, especially football tournaments, across the 19 northern states and beyond.

He added that, "We are here for the Northeast football tournament of ACF that comprises Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, and the host state, Bauchi." "So, ACF leadership feels it is very important to organize such events as they work to complement the system, especially from the northern region. If you are aware that the ACF has been in existence for the past twenty-five years, with all the challenges, we see how we can put the people of Arewa in general in terms of speaking for them, and they have many programs outlined. Sports is one of them, that's why we are here in Bauchi."

Fakai added that the unity football event covers all 19 northern states, including the FCT Abuja, so the whole idea is for us to see the 25th anniversary, at least ACF can be able to link a minimum of 20% to professional bodies because we so much believe in the opportunity that has to do with sports.

He noted that with great leaders under the leadership of Chairman, Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, with the National Chairman, Barrister Usman, and National Secretary, "One is for the teeming youth to understand the ACF is ever ready to accommodate young people. 

Today, under-17 are playing, and they are aware of discovering talents, and they are being watched. The whole idea is let's see at the end of the day about 20 or 30 players that would be linked to the professional body either at home or international, and it is going to be an annual event under ACF".

Some participating players from Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, and Bauchi appreciated the Arewa Consultative Forum for their foresight in organizing such events that bring sports development not only to the region but the country at large.

They said the theme is in line with what the country needs in this critical time of economic challenges: 'Promoting Unity, Peace, and Youth Empowerment through Sports'.

According to the organizers, after all the matches, the grand finale is expected in Kaduna for the winners and runners-up to emerge.