Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye with Austine Onah (SIWES Student)
-As IKODASS Honours Onafowokan, Alagago, Alogba, other sports heroes
Professionals have proffered ways forward for sports to fully move forward and contribute to overall development of Ikorodu Division. This was a major outcome of the maiden Ikorodu- Oga Development Association (IKODASS) Sports Summit and Sports Hall of Fame held last week.
The summit was part of the 2 – day IKODASS Sports Fiesta which also featured track events and indoor games – chess, scrabble tennis, held at the Oriwu College Sports Arena and the Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu.
At the summit, Arch. Sir Micheal Olutusen Onafowokan, Alhaji Rasaq Solaja Alagago, Alhaji (Chief) Musediq Alogba, Alhaji (Chief) Bamisedun Adamson, Chief (Dr.) 0. Kolawole Olusoji Ogunfile (JP), Chief Lai Ogunleye (Latagati) and Alhaji Saheed Kolawole Akinsanya, were honoured with posthumous awards for their contributions to sports development in Ikorodu.
IKODASS Chairman, Alhaji Kolawole Fatai Olayiwola, said that Ikorodu will be fully utilizing the transformative power of sports in community engagement and development.
He said that the summit was initiated to address critical issues confronting the development of sports in Ikorodu.
“Today’s summit is not just a gathering; it is a statement. A statement that Ikorodu is ready to embrace the power of sports not merely as entertainment, but as a transformative tool for youth development, community engagement, economic growth, and cultural pride.
“Over the years, we have seen how sports can shape the minds of young people, instill discipline, encourage teamwork, and open doors to national and international opportunities. From the dusty fields of our local schools to the grand stages of national competitions, our sons and daughters have continued to show that talent truly lives here.
“Yet, talent alone is not enough. That is why this summit is essential. It is our chance to ask the critical questions: How do we build lasting sports infrastructure in Ikorodu? How do we create clear pathways from grassroots sports to professional levels? How do we attract investment into local sports development? And most importantly, how do we ensure that no talented child in Ikorodu is left behind due to lack of opportunity or support?
He emphasised reason the sports summit is meant for the youths and the overall development of Ikorodu, while also stating that IKODASS is open for collaborations and partnerships with government and other stakeholders in moving sports forward.
“To our youths, this summit is for you. The sports fiesta is for you. IKODASS will continue to champion your cause, amplify your voices, and create platforms where your dreams can flourish. Whether you aspire to be the next Nigerian football legend, Olympic athlete, world-class coach, or sports entrepreneur, know that we are here to support you.
“Let me also use this opportunity to call on all levels of government, private sector investors, and philanthropic individuals: Ikorodu is open for collaboration. Join us in building sports academies, upgrading training facilities, sponsoring talent development programs, and creating jobs through sports.
“As we look forward to the matches, races, and competitions that make up the Ikorodu Oga Sports Fiesta, let us remember that every goal scored, every lap run, and every trophy lifted, is a step towards a stronger, healthier, and more united Ikorodu.
“Together, let us use sports not just to entertain, but to empower. Not just to compete, but to connect. Not just to celebrate, but to build”, the IKODASS Chairman said.
In his keynote address, Prince Hakeem Olukunga, former Board Member, Lagos State Sports Commission and the Sports Consultant on the Fiesta, in his keynote address, highlighted some failures that he described as sins that debarred progress of sports in lkorodu. He listed failure to honour past heroes of sports philanthropists and utilizing God’s given opportunities.
“My address at today’s summit is to disclose some of the SINS of Ikorodu division as a people, regarding acquisition of sporting facilities and edifice, with a view to addressing them.
“The SINS are as follows: Forgetting to and failure to appreciate and honour our sports philanthropists of yester years, that financed various sporting activities in their days, and failure to utilize the God’s given opportunities when they came”, Prince Olukunga said.
Emphasising Ikorodu’s failure to maximise the God’s given opportunities, the sports consultant stated that: “Unable to use the available 40 acres of land earmarked for the construction of Ikorodu divisional stadium along Odogunyan Road, from 1983 till date; unable to access the opportunity given to place Ikorodu division on a national and international and even world Golf map, especially the national youth golf Academy in 2001.
Others listed were the: “inability to grab another opportunity of having a mini-stadium in 2010, our failure to provide the needed land for the project, and also the “inability to follow up another opportunity of having a befitting stadium to be sited by the then Governor Ambode.
“Above all these, the failure of our elites, our business chieftains, our chieftaincy holders, our political class, our well placed technocrats, our wealthy and very wealthy individuals and indeed our sports lovers, to sponsor various sports and games and competitions. A reference is the 53rd Asoju Oba of Lagos Table-Tennis competition among others”, he added.
He commended IKODASS for accepting to honour sports philanthropists of yesteryears, and hold the summit to address some of these challenges facing sports development.
Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, lauding the IKODASS’ efforts in the development of youth and sports, added that efforts to get a standard stadium in Ikorodu, has always been a priority.
“It is a very good legacy. Every year, IKODASS includes sports in its budget and makes provisions for youth development. The idea of a stadium for Ikorodu has always been on the list, and it’s a vital step toward youth empowerment.
“The youths our future, and it’s important to catch them young. There is already a promise to make the stadium available to us. We have identified land at LASUSTECH and that land has been designated for the stadium project.
“This is a great step forward for Ikorodu, and we pray for the successful completion of this vision”, Oba Shotobi said.
The representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, lauded IKODASS for the engagement of youths, especially school students, in sports and revealed that he has a dream of facilitating a standard stadium for Ikorodu, a vision he said that lack of lands has not been made to materialize.
Prof. Raimi Morohunfolu of the Department of Human Kinetic, Sports & Health Education, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, in his paper, described sports as a transformational, which can be used for youth engagement and employment; Health & fitness improvement; talent identification and development and social inclusion and community unity.
“Sports Is a powerful tool for social and economic transformation. Beyond recreation, it fosters unity, disciplines and leadership.
“Community sports promote social inclusion, improved educational outcomes, reduce youth restiveness, job creation and healthy lifestyles”, he said.
While rating sports development in Ikorodu which has a rich sporting heritage and has produced great sportsmen, the sports expert said that the school and community in Ikorodu “is at a significant low”. He also described the sports infrastructure as “inadequate and poorly managed”, while he submitted that funding is “limited for impact”.
He identified key challenges such as poor sports infrastructures, lack of structured sports programme, insufficient funding and sponsorship, low awareness and community interest and weak school – community – government involvement.
He called for the establishment of Ikorodu Royal Sports Development Council (IRSDC), development of a 10 – year action plan 2026 – 2036), organising stakeholders roundtable, upgrade sports facilities in schools, organise annual Ikorodu Royal School Sports Festival and granting scholarship to discovered talents.
Another resource person, Prof. Macpherson Ogunsemore, from the Kinetic & Health Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), who said that he has been part of Ikorodu in the last 32 years, also said that lack of adequate infrastructure has prevented development of sports in the community.
He, therefore, called for community focused sports development, starting from the primary schools where he said there must be adequate sports facilities for the pupils’ development and also secondary schools as well.
“For you to get them young ,we must start our sport detection, identification and talent maximization right from the primary school. I could still recollect so many years passed when NITEL sponsored the primary school football competitions, and I was the one that took representative of Ikorodu to go and play that competition. They were all well kitted”.
He called for sponsorship, a checklist of primary and secondary schools with playgrounds for proper management.
He further proposed what he called “adopt talent”, as a means of developing talents that are being detected.
“From grassroots to the professional stage, you must, therefore, make use of what we call ‘adopt a talent’. There are philanthropists or organizations that easily adopt talents until such talents reach the top of their career”, Prof. Ogunsemore said.
At the summit, medals and trophies were presented to participants that emerged first, second and third in the track events, chess, scrabble and table tennis activities that were competed for during the IKODASS Sports Fiesta that was held at the Oriwu College Sports Arena and the Ikorodu Town Hall.
Also at the summit were Hon. Babawale Alogba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Hon. Quadri Olalekan Agbaje, Chairman IKODASS Sports Fiesta, Mr Babatunde Fajebe Onasanya, Chairman, Sub – Committee on Sports, Alhaji Luqman Sonibare, State Secretary, Community Advisory Committee, IKODASS executives, sports administrators and family of the posthumous honorees among others.
