By Beyond News
Ado Ekiti
As part of the activities lined up for the 2023 Ilogbo -Ekiti Day celebration, the annual Football Competition among youths of the town commenced on Sunday with calls from notable leaders in the town that the youth must rise and commit themselves to community development services.
At the opening ceremony graced by home-based and diaspora leaders, a notable son of the town and former deputy speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adetunji Orisalade ejo spoke on behalf of the stakeholders and elite in the town advised the younger generation to grow in love be their brothers’ keeper.
Orisalade gave the advice on Sunday in Ilogbo – Ekiti during the match between Dr. Omojola Awosusi’s Team and Mr. Femi Aina’s Team which marks the opening of the tournament.
Orisalade, who is the Chairman Planning Committee the 2023 Ilogbo Day charged the youths to be friendly with themselves during and after the football season, saying the community would not move forward if the youths are finding it difficult to live together harmoniously.
Noting that football is one of the things that unite the world, Orisalade said the town also subscribe to the benefits and promises of the roles football in community, national and global peace as well as development.
“We introduced football to Ilogbo-Ekiti Day celebration to bring our youths together and to be part of the celebration.
Also, addressing the youths before the match, the former Registrar, Ekiti State University, Ado -Ekiti, Dr. Omojola Awosusi, averred that the essence of the competition is to bring people together, to foster unity and love amongst the indigenes of the town.
Dr. Awosusi whose team played 2-2 draw with Mr. Aina ‘s team in the opening match, enjoined the officials to be fair.
Speaking on behalf of Ifetayese Age Group ( the official host of 2023 Ilogbo-Ekiti Day), the Vice Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Hon. Shina Bobade, thanked the the planning committee and for tasking Youth Coalition for Ilogbo Development (YCID) to host the football programme for this year’s Ilogbo Day.
In continuation of the competition, Brig. Ibukun Adewa’s Team will on Monday take on Chief (Mrs) Owolabi’s Team.
Olu Adewa is a retired Brig. General and the current Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ekiti while Owolabi is the current President of Egbe Omo Ilogbo-Ekiti.
Participating in the tournament are four teams named after Awosusi, Aina, Adewa and Owolabi to appreciate their quota to the development of the town.
The competition is being sponsored by a United Kingdom based Ilogbo indigene, Olatoye Babatope Samuel through Youth Coalition for Ilogbo Development.