Aiyekire Local Government Area claimed the men’s title and Ado Local Government Area won the women’s crown at the fifth Professor Akin Oyebode Football Competition in Ekiti State.
Both finals ended 2-1 against Irepodun/Ifelodun. Aiyekire prevailed in the male decider, before Ado recorded the same scoreline in the female final.
Quick facts
- Aiyekire beat Irepodun/Ifelodun 2-1 to take the men’s championship.
- Ado overcame Irepodun/Ifelodun by a 2-1 margin in the women’s final.
- The men’s winners collected ₦500,000, with ₦300,000 for the runners-up and ₦200,000 for third-placed Oye.
- Ado received ₦250,000 for the women’s title; Irepodun/Ifelodun earned ₦150,000 and Oye took ₦100,000 for third place.
The concluding matches took place at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, bringing together representatives of local government areas from around the state. Supporters, officials, scouts and agents were among those in attendance as they monitored potential emerging players.
Irepodun/Ifelodun finished second in the men’s event, collecting ₦300,000 after their final defeat. Oye secured third position and received ₦200,000.
In the women’s competition, Irepodun/Ifelodun were also runners-up and were awarded ₦150,000. Oye again placed third, taking home ₦100,000.
Competition sponsor Akin Oyebode, a former Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance, said the tournament was created to strengthen grassroots sport, uncover young football talent and offer young people a route towards their ambitions.
Oyebode said the event grew from his family’s strong interest in sport. He described it as a yearly pathway for spotting and developing promising footballers throughout Ekiti State.
He said the project was not limited to staging matches, with organisers working alongside scouting networks to select leading performers and provide access to trials.
Outstanding participants are also being supported through scholarships, Oyebode said, allowing them to balance their education with football development.
Young athletes should not be forced to sacrifice their studies in order to chase sporting goals, he said. The programme is intended to help them succeed in both fields.
He added that the competition formed part of a wider youth-development effort, giving gifted young people opportunities to be seen, sharpen their ability and target professional careers.
Beyond football, Oyebode urged Ekiti’s young population to build useful skills and explore prospects in technology, agriculture, education and healthcare.
He identified the proposed Ekiti Knowledge Zone as a project that could drive innovation and talent growth. Agriculture and agribusiness, he added, also offer considerable opportunities for young people.
Oyebode said continued spending on human-capital development and community-level sport could enable Ekiti youths to compete strongly nationally and internationally.
Those present for the final included Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye, Ekiti State Sports Commission chairman Dr Olusola Osetoba, and elder statesman Alhaji Ogunlayi.
