Ododo Okun Unity Football Tournament Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting
Seven-Man Committee Begins Plans for Competition Across 65 Wards in Okun Land
By Our Correspondent
The Central Organising Committee for the Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo Okun Unity Football Tournament has formally commenced preparations for the grassroots sporting competition, with its seven-member committee holding its inaugural meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The committee, comprising representatives drawn from the local government areas within Okun extraction, met to deliberate on the modalities, structure and implementation of the tournament, which is expected to bring together young football talents from across the 65 political wards in Okun land.
The initiative is designed to use football as a vehicle for promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, youth engagement, talent discovery and community development across Okun and Oworo communities.
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Speaking at the inaugural meeting, the Chairman of the Central Organising Committee, Comrade Tope Alonge, welcomed members and commended them for accepting the responsibility and committing their time towards an initiative aimed at promoting the development of Okun land through sports.
Alonge described football as one of the most effective platforms for bringing people together, particularly young people, stressing that the tournament would provide an avenue for youths from different communities to interact, build friendships and compete in an atmosphere of peace and sportsmanship.
According to him, the tournament would bring together youths from across Okun and Oworo land in the spirit of unity, friendship, peace and healthy competition, while creating opportunities for talented young footballers to showcase their abilities.
He said the competition would go beyond football by creating opportunities for community leaders, traditional rulers, government representatives, youth organisations and other stakeholders to meet, interact and strengthen existing relationships among communities.
Grassroots Talent Discovery
The committee chairman outlined the objectives of the tournament to include the development of grassroots football, strengthening relationships among political wards and communities, discovering and nurturing young football talents and providing promising players with opportunities to gain exposure to football academies, professional clubs and scouts.
He explained that the initiative was conceived as a platform where young footballers who may not ordinarily have access to major football competitions could display their talents before a wider audience.
Alonge further disclosed that the long-term vision was to institutionalise the competition as an annual grassroots sporting event, capable of attracting increasing participation and recognition across Okun land and beyond.
He stressed that the success of the tournament would depend largely on the collective commitment of committee members, participating communities and other stakeholders.
Committee Member Commends Initiative
Reacting to the chairman’s address, one of the committee members commended Alonge for his courage and commitment to the initiative, describing football as a powerful instrument for promoting unity, peace, youth empowerment, talent development and community integration.
The member noted that sporting activities could create an atmosphere where young people from different communities meet, compete and develop lasting relationships irrespective of their differences.
The committee is expected to continue its deliberations and develop the necessary framework for the successful organisation of the tournament across the 65 wards.
The organisers expressed optimism that the competition would not only discover football talents but also contribute to strengthening the bonds of unity among the people of Okun land.
With the formal commencement of planning, attention is now expected to shift towards the tournament’s fixtures, participating teams, venues, logistics, sponsorship and other organisational arrangements required to make the competition a successful grassroots sporting event.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper, September 17, 2026
