Kunle Adelabu
-As Fatom Schools emerge champions of football competition
The I – Heroes and National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), sustained their campaign against drugs, especially among students in Ikorodu, with a grand ceremony.
The closing ceremony, which held on Wednesday at the Police Barracks Playing Ground, Igbogbo Road, Ikorodu, witnessed an interesting final match of the second edition of the inter – school football competition tagged, ‘Stop The Crime Campaign Cup 2.0’, organized to foster oneness among the students and propagate the campaign against drug abuse.
The final match between the Noble Winner College and Fatom Private School ended 2 – 4 in favour of the later. The match, which ended 1 – 1 during the regulation time, went into penalty shootouts, and Noble College scored one and lost three, while Fatom converted two spot kicks and missed one.
While the winner was presented with a trophy and N50, 000 prize money by the sponsor (I-Heroes) of the programme which started in February, the second place team got N30, 000 from the New Horizon which co – sponsored the event.
In the third place match which took place earlier, Ultimate Villa FC defeated Ayomiposi FC 1 – 0, and received the sum of N20, 000, also from the co – sponsor.
In the novelty match, which was held in between the third place and the final match, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL) team played 1 – 1 draw with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) team. The match featured personality like Akogun Lanre Olabinjo, the General Commandant, IDPIL Local Joint Security Taskforce operatives, Olalekan ‘Rado’ Pelumi, Comrade Olalekan Biliamin Oba, Chairman, NYCN, Lagos State, Femi, LTV Cameraman, Tosin Odufeko (Pukka), Coach Tunde among others.
Coordinator, NYCN, Ikorodu branch, Comrade Idris Omotayo who was the Chief Host, announced WAEC sponsorship for two students from the team that emerged winners.
Mr Majolagbe Olanshile, President, I – Heroes, speaking at the final match and grand finale of the campaign against drugs, again charged students in attendance to see themselves as the future of the country, and desist from anything that would caught short their aspirations.
The I-Heroes President, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Ogunkoya, also assured that the club would continue to contribute towards the social and economic development of Ikorodu Division.
“We started the campaign against drug abuse together going to various schools and holding seminars, and today is the grand finale which the final match of the football competition is also holding”, he said.
“Though, many have said that your future lies with you and you must take charge of it today, as youths, you are the leaders of tomorrow and that’s why we are organizing this programme to encourage you to make good choices.
“That is why the I-Heroes is partnering with the NYCN Ikorodu, to organise a campaign against drug abuse which has been on for a week.
“I-Heroes, as a club, believe in giving back to the society. We believe in encouraging the youths, and propagating and advancing goodness in the community. We also ensure that the Ikorodu Division continue to have good developments”, he added.
The State NYCN Chairman, Comrade Lekan Oba Biliamin, while commending the organisers, charged youths to desist from drugs abuse to be able to attain their future potentials.
“The message is very simple, when you build the youths, you will build the nation. To our youth, stay out of drugs if you are interested in the future and if the future is important to you. Stay off whatever that will make you a nuisance and not adding value to the society”, he charged.
“Drug abuse is not just about heroine, Colorado and other hard substances, but also about when a doctor does not prescribe a particular drug for you and you use it, it’s also an abuse of drug. You can abuse paracetamol and other regular drugs that you can find around”, he said.
While wishing the players successful football careers, particularly those planning to take football as a profession.
The number one youth in Lagos State, also commended all the participants for their good football display.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ikorodu Divisional Police, Mr Clement Akinola, in his own remarks, also emphasized the need for the students to adhere to the charge that they should stay off drugs.
“I commend the coordinator and other organisers of this programme. God will continue to bless you. By the time we continue to have an increase of your likes, Nigeria will become the society of our dream”, he said.
“The campaign, ‘Say No To Drugs’, is very apt, because drugs kill, destroy the future and also destroy dreams and aspirations.
“I know that as youths, your dream is to be a world champion if you are a footballer; if you are a politican, your dream is to be greater than our President, President Bola Tinubu, and to be greater than our state governor, Governor Sanwo – Olu, and if you are police officer, your plan is to be greater than the DPO, and become IGP. You can only actualize this if you stay away from drugs.
“Drugs will destroy your brain; it can send you to early grave or to prison, by that, your dream is already caught short and aspiration destroyed. I don’t pray for such for you. You can say amen to the prayer, but you should stay away from drugs completely.
“In order to actualize your dreams and aspirations in life, endeavour to stay off drugs”, he advised strongly.
Ikorodu NYCN Coordinator, Comrade Idris Omotayo l, thanked the I-Heroes, the major sponsor of the weeks – long campaign, and other co – sponsors, for the success of the programme which he said included engagement with students in their various schools, symposium and the inter – school football competition.
He also emphasized and charged students on the need not to allow their future gets destroyed by drugs.
Also in attendance were Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, Executive Secretary, IDPIL, Mr Taiwo Hassan Awolaru, Administrative Officer, IDPIL, Comrade Omotayo ‘TySleek’ Odusanya, Coordinator, NYCN, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Head of Youth Department, Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Abiodun Olowosago, I-Heroes member, as well as chieftains and members of Gbogeniyi of Ikorodu.
