… Constituency-wide competition promotes grassroots football, community bonding across Ikorodu Division

The iCare Community Unity Cup 2026 has reached a decisive stage, with eight teams representing wards across Ikorodu Division advancing to the quarter-finals of the constituency-wide football tournament financed by Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, Member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The competition, organised to promote grassroots football, community interaction and unity through sports, began with participation from 30 ward-based teams drawn from the six local councils and local council development areas across the division. The tournament’s elimination rounds have now produced eight quarter-finalists, setting the stage for the next phase of the contest.

The qualifying teams represent Ward E and Ward G in Ikorodu Local Government; Ward A, Ipakodo, in Ikorodu West LCDA; Ward E1, Odogunyan, and Ward B3, Isiu, in Ikorodu North LCDA; Ward C4, Ibeshe, in Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA; Ward D, covering Igbokuta, Oke-Agbo and Igbalu, in Imota LCDA; and Ward B, Ayegbami/Odoro, in Ijede LCDA.

The councillors associated with the eight qualifying wards are Hon. Egbeotokun Latifat Omowunmi and Oshikoya Oladimeji Morufu of Ikorodu Local Government; Hon. Jessica Enitan Oba of Ikorodu West LCDA; Hon. Banjoko Babatunde Oluwaseun and Hon. Idris Jimoh Liasa of Ikorodu North LCDA; Hon. Yusuf Olalekan Bello of Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA; Hon. Oluwole Adeshina of Imota LCDA; and Hon. Agbabiaka Olawale Mustapha of Ijede LCDA.

By bringing teams from different wards into a shared competition, the tournament has created a platform for young footballers to represent their communities, test their abilities and build relationships beyond their immediate neighbourhoods.

Rep. Benson’s financing of the competition reflects his support for grassroots sports as a means of encouraging youth participation, providing constructive recreation and strengthening social ties across the division. With 30 teams entering the competition, the format has enabled communities to participate through their ward teams before the field was narrowed to the eight quarter-finalists.

The tournament is being coordinated by a Local Organising Committee (LOC) chaired by Hon. Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, with Comrade Biliamin Olalekan Oba serving as Head of Strategy. The technical subcommittee is led by Alhaji Sonibare Lukman as Chairman, with Jelili Ogunmuyiwa as Secretary and Ayeni Ridwan as a member.

The media unit is headed by Olubode Mac. Oserinde, Media Aide to Rep. Benson, with Milo Olalekan Deen and Precious Eboigbe serving as members. Other members of the LOC include Basit Ogunsanmi, the Administrative Officer; Damilola Oloyede, a committee member; and Precious Eboigbe, Secretary of the LOC.

Mayor Deen Sanwoola, Director-General of Jimi Benson’s iCare Foundation, serves as Project Coordinator, overseeing the broader implementation of the tournament.

The committee’s different responsibilities span strategic planning, technical administration, media communications and general coordination as the competition progresses towards its concluding stages.

In a statement on the tournament, Hon. Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan explained that the competition was designed to give ward teams a common platform to demonstrate their footballing abilities while strengthening unity across Ikorodu Division. He commended Benson for financing the initiative and providing an avenue for grassroots football to thrive.

Head of Strategy, Comrade Olalekan Biliamin Oba described the participation of 30 teams as an indication of the enthusiasm the competition has generated across the division. He affirmed that the organising committee remained focused on delivering a well-coordinated tournament that would give participating teams a fair opportunity to compete.

Technical subcommittee Secretary, Abduljeleel Ogunmuyiwa observed that the elimination format had helped identify the teams progressing to the quarter-finals while maintaining competitive interest across the participating wards. The Chairman of Technical subcommittee, Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, underscored the importance of discipline, fair play and adherence to the competition’s technical arrangements as the tournament advances.

Mayor Deen Sanwoola explained that the initiative reflects the iCare Foundation’s broader community engagement through programmes that bring residents together around shared interests and constructive activities. He expressed appreciation to Benson for supporting the competition and encouraged the participating teams to uphold sportsmanship throughout the remaining matches.

As the tournament advances towards its concluding stages, attention now turns to the eight qualifying wards and their representatives, with each team seeking to progress further and claim the inaugural iCare Community Unity Cup title.

Beyond the result on the pitch, the competition has provided a shared sporting platform for communities across Ikorodu Division, placing grassroots participation, healthy rivalry and community unity at the heart of the tournament.