By Gbenga Sodeinde
As 2023 Ilogbo -Ekiti Day Football Competition kicked off, the former Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adetunji Orisalade has advised the youths of the town to always be their brothers’ keeper.
Orisalade gave the advice on Sunday in Ilogbo – Ekiti during the opening match of the tournament between Dr. Omojola Awosusi’s Team and Mr. Femi Aina’s Team.
Orisalade, who is the Chairman Planning Committee of 2023 Ilogbo Day, declared the competition open on behalf of all stakeholders and elites in the town.
He 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.
He added that football is one of the things that unite the world ,” football brings people together all over the world to celebrate the beautiful game.
“We introduced football to Ilogbo-Ekiti Day celebration to bring our youths together and to be part of the celebration.
Addressing the youths before the match, a former Registrar of 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.
Today’s encounter will be between Brig. Ibukun Adewa’s Team and Chief (Mrs) Owolabi’s Team. 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.
The four teams were 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.