Kunle Adelabu
-First match at the stadium witnessed by late Gov. Jakande played 38 years ago
It was exactly 38 years on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, when the first match was played at the Igbogbo Township Stadium which was watched by the first Executive Governor of Lagos State, late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.
The stadium, which was acquired by the Lagos State Government when late Prince Ademola Adeniji – Adele was the Commissioner for Sports in the state, is so dear to the heart of a prominent member of the Governance Advisory Committee (GAC) and the first Secretary to the State Government, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun.
In an exclusive interview with THE IMPACT on Wednesday (yesterday) in his Igbogbo office, Asiwaju Basorun shared the historical development of the proposed stadium with our reporters and charged the state government to build it into an international standard to serve the people of Ikorodu Division
“The issue of Igbogbo stadium is so dear to my heart and the history of the stadium is such that, I believe that government will do something this year”, Asiwaju Basorun said while speaking on the 38th anniversary of the first match played at the historic stadium.
“That stadium was built by the Community Development Committee (CDC) in 1983 and in fact, 17th of February 1983 was the day the match was played on that field (exactly 38 years today). It was a novelty match which late Lateef Jakande watched as the then Governor”.
The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also stated that another illustrious son of Igbogbo and a former Minister of Work, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, manned the goal post during the first match while he was also one of the players during the match.
“Seye Ogunlewe (former Senator and Minister of Works) was the goalkeeper of the side that l played for. It is 38 years today that the first match was played in that stadium that was developed by the CDC.
“When the Ministry of Sports, headed then by Prince Ademola Adeniji – Adele, knew about it, he took some steps and take over the stadium in 2008/2009 and got the place fenced.
“The stadium, as it is today, belongs to the Lagos State Government. What we are asking for is for its development into a standard stadium which can be used by the people of the division. That is a project that is on my mind every minute”, Asiwaju Basoriun said while calling on the state government to develop the stadium.
