The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Ibadan North Constituency I in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Olalekan Bello, popularly known as BALLO, has organised a football competition for youths in the constituency to promote grassroots sports development and encourage peaceful coexistence.
The initiative was designed to provide a platform for emerging football talents to showcase their abilities, promote grassroots football, and foster peace, unity, and positive relationships among young people in the community.
The competition’s grand finale was held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with an exciting encounter between Emirates FC and Zhico FC. Emirates FC emerged champions after securing a convincing 2–0 victory over their opponents.
Community stakeholders and participants commended Hon. Ballo for his contribution to grassroots sports development and his efforts to use football as a tool for promoting peaceful coexistence, unity, and cooperation among young people.
In his address, Hon. Ballo expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for making the competition a success.
“We started this journey with Bismillahi, and today, we have brought it to a successful conclusion with Alhamdulillahi. I sincerely thank Almighty Allah for granting us the opportunity to witness this beautiful moment,” he said.
He also appreciated the leadership of the SDP in Ibadan North Local Government, ward executives, party members, and everyone whose support, encouragement, and participation contributed to the success of the competition.
Hon. Ballo encouraged young people across the constituency to believe in themselves, remain focused, and never abandon their dreams, regardless of the challenges they may encounter.
He emphasised the need to invest in young people’s talents, develop their capacities, and actively involve them in shaping the future of their communities.
According to him, young people deserve an enabling environment where their talents, creativity, and potential can be recognised, nurtured, and transformed into meaningful opportunities.
He further called for greater youth participation in leadership and community development, urging residents of Ibadan North Constituency I to support his aspiration to represent them at the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Hon. Ballo pledged that, if elected, he would prioritise youth development, create opportunities for young people, support grassroots initiatives, and work towards building an environment where talents can thrive and community development can become a collective achievement.
