Ajeromi : Winners of Koko Street Soccer Commends Lagos Lawmaker, Lukman Olumoh, Over His Support For Youths

 

The winners of the third edition of Koko Street Soccer, Ligali Street team in Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency 1 have described their representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Sa'ad Olumoh, as a torch bearer, whose love for youths development has helped to reduce restiveness through  deliberate engagement in sporting activities.

The team, which paid a courtesy call on the lawmaker in his office in Alausa, Ikeja, noted with nostalgia how the street soccer concept has birthed positive rivalry and competitive mien with gainful rewards, amidst the youths who hitherto engaged in all forms of social vices.

As the over 48 street teams prepare for the fourth edition of the tournament, the lawmaker maintained that given the fact that the youths form 60 percent of the population of his constituents, engaging them positively will help reduce social vices in the community.

Some of the players, who spoke with newsmen, recounted their experiences in the competition. 

A player in Ligali team, Mr Ifeanyi was full of commendation for the lawmaker, noting that the competition has tremendously led to the improvement of the youths.

He however, charged the youths to remain focused in whatever they set out to do, adding that they will surely excel once they have the zeal and determination.

 

Muyideen Olagoke, Taofeek Afolabi and others, who were on the entourage, noted that Hon Olumoh is a man of his word right from inception, adding that a lot of youths who are doing well now, used to be touts.

In his comments, Hon. Olumoh said that he had  lots of youths in his constituency, which he said is a mini Nigeria as people from all the different tribes in the country are resident there. 

“So I felt I needed to engage the youths positively. Aside assisting them with their education in terms of bursary awards as well as helping them secure employment, we still have to do something else.

“So while we give soft loans to the traders we decided to organise street soccer and from the beginning till final stage, the participants benefited huge sums of cash rewards 2. The winner got N250,000, first runner up got N150,000, while we gave N100,000 to the team that came third.

“It was organised on a five aside basis across the five INEC recognized wards in the constituency, that brought us to 48 teams that participated in the last tournament and Ligali Street emerged the winner that informed their visit to my office today and we are planning the fourth edition.

“It is an important way of getting the youths engaged positively and taking them away from vices like thuggery, drug abuse and other menace. That is the basis for Koko Street Soccer annual tournament," he said.

The lawmaker also used the avenue to counsel the state government and other political office holders to look more in the direction of the youths to drive existing vibrant sector of the economy. 

“My plea for those of us in government including councillors, House of Assembly members, House of Representatives members and Senator is to evolve programmes that can keep our youths busy.

“The state government also needs to vote more money to the creative industry, such that we can get our youths positively engaged, especially in entertainment, sports and technology and at the end of the day everybody will be better for it," he said.