By Peter Dansu The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, has called on the people...
By Peter Dansu
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, has called on the people of Badagry Division to embrace unity and peaceful coexistence for the development of the region, while announcing that a mini stadium will be constructed for Badagry Division and sited at Isashi.
Hon. Ojelabi made this known at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Ojelabi Football Competition Badagry Division, a grassroots sports initiative sponsored to promote inter ethnic harmony, youth empowerment and talent discovery.
He assured residents that the football competition would be sustained as a regular programme aimed at strengthening unity and creating opportunities for young people to showcase their talents.
The first edition of the tournament featured 74 teams drawn from 10 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas within Badagry Division, recording massive participation and community engagement.
The competition concluded on Saturday at the Lagos State University playing field, where Sporting Hotspurs of Ajeromi Ifelodun defeated LASU Blazers of Ojo by two goals to nil to emerge champions of the tournament.
After a goalless first half, Sporting Hotspurs scored twice in the second half to clinch the trophy and a cash prize of one million naira, while LASU Blazers received seven hundred and fifty thousand naira as runners up.
In the third place match, Abiodun Kings of Ato Awori defeated New Era of Badagry one nil to secure the bronze medal and a reward of five hundred thousand naira.
Addressing guests at the closing ceremony, Hon. Ojelabi stated that the competition was initiated to foster unity, identify outstanding football talents and maintain peace across Badagry Division, noting that the area has produced notable national football icons including Sunday Olise and Emmanuel Amunike.
He expressed satisfaction that the tournament recorded no incident of violence from the opening ceremony on November 15, 2025, adding that over 86 matches were played without any formal protest.
Hon. Ojelabi commended the Local Organising Committee, participating teams, security agencies, medical personnel, media practitioners and football supporters for ensuring a successful and peaceful tournament.
The grand finale also featured the presentation of awards for the Most Valuable Player, Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Best Behaved Team and other outstanding performers.
Several football scouts and club officials were present during the competition to identify promising talents for future development.
Buoyed by the success of the maiden edition, Hon. Ojelabi announced that subsequent editions of the competition would be expanded to cover all Local Governments and LCDAs within Lagos West Senatorial District. He also pledged the sum of twenty million naira to support the organisation of the next edition.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Deji Williams, commended Hon. Ojelabi for his commitment to grassroots sports development and presented a proposal for the establishment of the Ojelabi Sports Academy, which will nurture talents in football and other sports including athletics, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and tennis.
The event was attended by royal fathers, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, executive chairmen of Local Governments and LCDAs in Badagry Division, political leaders, representatives of LASU and LASUED, academics, community and religious leaders, sports administrators and members of the media.
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