… As organisers seeks more sponsorship
All is now set for the Annual Agbado Oke-Odo boxing tournament, scheduled to hold on Sunday 8, December, 2024.
The tournament is a brainchild of Karomishaus Promotions in collaboration with the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association.
It will take place at the premises of Temidire Primary School, Ile Epo, Oke Odo area of the Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA.
This year’s edition, which is the third in the series, is expected to draw participants from Agbado Oke Odo LCDA and other parts of Lagos State.
Participation will be opened to registered Clubs with Lagos State Amateur Boxing Competition within Lagos State alone from all the Local governments.
The organisers, in statement signed by the lead facilitator of the tournament, Mr. Earnest Kasumu, said the competition is open to all youths of intermediate and senior age groups, male and female.
Mr. Kasumu, who is also the Chairman, Agbado Oke Odo Community Development Committee (CDC), said the competition aims to engage the youths meaningfully to fight insecurity, idleness and other social vices in the society.
He said and the tournament will be used to advance the need for talent discovery in Boxing in Lagos State.
Expressing his satisfaction with the progress made so far by the tournament, Mr. Kasumu said that the last competition produced one Atanda Ayomide who bagged a silver medal at the annual National Sports Competition held in Delta State.
Call for sponsorship
The CDC Chairman, therefore, appealed for sponsorship of the tournament from corporate organisations and individuals.
“Last year, we had the likes of the Nigerian Television Authority, Lagos Television and Jordan FM that came in as our media partners to cover the event. We also enjoyed the supports of Flour Mills Nigeria Ltd, Hon. Uzamotu Akinbile-Yusuf, former Commissioner for Tourism in Lagos State, Architect Bode Jegede, Mr. Waheed Olayiwola from the United Kingdom, Mr. Ibrahim Adeyeye and Alhaji Gasali Jinadu, among others with moral supports from Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area,” he said.
Mr. Kasumu, however, explained that the tournament will be held for just one day due to lack of enough support and sponsors, saying it was possible for it to enjoy more days or about a week but the current financial challenges will not allow that.
He noted that to host such a competition for a week would entail the need to accommodate the competitors as well as the officials.
“For this year, corporate sponsorship is still limited but all we have been able to do has been from personal efforts and supports from well-meaning personal friends and lovers of grassroots sports competition,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the competition would continue to improve in quality and popularity with time.
The competition is free for members of the public, and winners will go home with various gifts and awards.
