Ogun LG chairman hails Idiroko Customs football initiative, seeks professional pathway for border talents

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

What began as a grassroots football competition in Nigeria’s border communities has evolved into a broader conversation on youth development, talent discovery and changing the long-held stereotypes associated with border towns.

Following the successful conclusion of the maiden Afeni Inter-Secondary School Football Tournament, the Chairman of Ipokia Local Government Area, of Ogun State, Hon. Akohomeh Johnson Avoseh, has urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to transform the competition into a genuine talent-hunting platform capable of producing future national and international football stars.

The two-week championship, initiated by the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Oladapo Afeni, was conceived as part of the Command’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to positively engage young people in border communities, discourage smuggling and other cross-border crimes, and redirect youthful energy towards education, sports and productive ventures.

While applauding the initiative, Avoseh said its impact should not end with the presentation of trophies and medals but should extend to creating real career opportunities for exceptional players.

According to him, meaningful youth engagement remains one of the most effective strategies for reducing crime and social vices in border communities.

“Anything that can positively engage our youths and channel their energy towards productive ventures should be encouraged. Whoever is promoting such initiatives is contributing immensely to the development of our community.

“The essence of sports is talent discovery, but beyond discovering talent is how those talents are nurtured, managed and promoted for national development.”

The council chairman noted that virtually every renowned football icon started from local community competitions before rising to international prominence, stressing that border communities should equally be given the opportunity to produce global sporting ambassadors.

From Competition to Career Pathways

Avoseh proposed that future editions of the tournament should attract football scouts, professional clubs and football academies capable of identifying exceptional players for scholarships and professional development.

According to him, inviting talent scouts from the semifinal stage would ensure that gifted players receive the exposure needed to launch successful football careers.

He specifically mentioned reputable football academies in Ogun State, including Beyond Limits Football Academy, Imperial Football Club, Dino Sporting Club, Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy, Achievers Football Academy and Golden Star Football Academy, as institutions that could partner with the organisers.

He also advocated live streaming and wider media coverage of the competition to expose participants to opportunities beyond their immediate environment.

“Football today has become a global industry. Some professional footballers earn in a few years what many public servants may never earn in decades of service. If we discover such talents here, everything possible should be done to give them the platform to succeed,” he said.

Changing the Border Narrative

Avoseh observed that communities along Nigeria’s borders have often been unfairly stereotyped as centres of smuggling and other illicit activities, insisting that initiatives such as the football championship help showcase the positive side of border communities.

“We are more than a border community. We have talented young people, brilliant students, professionals and future stars. Anything that projects us positively should be supported and showcased to the world.”

He also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for complementing its enforcement responsibilities with impactful community development projects.

Beyond sports, he acknowledged the Command’s investment in educational support programmes, community engagement and security collaboration with neighbouring Benin Republic.

According to him, the proactive leadership style of Deputy Comptroller Afeni has strengthened the relationship between Customs, traditional institutions, youths and the local government.

Youth Leader Commends Customs Partnership

Also speaking, the President of the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum, Comrade Deji Imoleayo Mawutin, described the Nigeria Customs Service as one of the community’s strongest development partners.

He disclosed that the Youth Forum had maintained a productive relationship with the Ogun I Area Command for the past eight years, noting that the Command had consistently responded positively to issues affecting the community.

He said the football tournament was a practical demonstration of Customs’ commitment to giving back to society through CSR.

According to him, sports provide an effective platform for bringing together secondary school students while steering them away from cultism, drug trafficking, smuggling and other social vices common in many border settlements.

He further noted that the Idiroko Area Command has long invested in youth development through Customs FC, a club currently campaigning in the Nationwide League One (NLO). As Nigeria’s foremost grassroots football league,

The president said NLO provides a pathway for young talents and feeder teams to progress through zonal playoffs into the Nigeria National League (NNL), thereby creating professional opportunities for promising players from border communities, urged customs to do more.

“As a border community, our youths face many temptations. Customs is deliberately engaging them through education and sports because an idle mind easily becomes vulnerable to crime.

“This competition has shown our young people that there are better alternatives to illegal activities,” he said.

Mawutin praised Deputy Comptroller Afeni’s youthful leadership style, describing him as proactive, approachable and deeply committed to community development.

He said the Customs boss had built mutual trust with youths, traditional rulers and other stakeholders through humility, effective communication and genuine concern for the welfare of border communities.

Customs Eyes Bigger Future

Responding to suggestions on expanding the initiative, Deputy Comptroller Afeni said the maiden edition was essentially a pilot programme designed to test the concept and identify areas requiring improvement, assured the tournament will be sustained.

Speaking through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Zakari Chado, the Area Controller assured stakeholders that recommendations from community leaders would be incorporated into future editions.

Chado also revealed that the Command has for more than a decade sponsored Customs FC, a football club currently competing in the Nationwide League One (NLO), Nigeria’s gateway to professional league football.

According to him, the club serves as another strategic platform for discovering and nurturing young football talents from border communities across Ogun State and neighbouring Benin Republic.

He explained that many players in Customs FC are indigenes of border communities, while others come from different parts of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, reflecting the Command’s commitment to promoting regional integration through sports.

Beyond football, he added, the Command continues to invest in educational initiatives and youth development programmes aimed at reducing crime and creating sustainable opportunities for young people.

More Than Football

The maiden Afeni Inter-Secondary School Football Tournament featured 12 secondary schools from border communities across Ogun State.

Favour Comprehensive College emerged champions after an impressive campaign, while outstanding individual performers were rewarded with cash prizes, educational materials and sporting equipment.

Beyond producing winners, stakeholders believe the tournament has laid the foundation for a long-term youth empowerment initiative capable of transforming lives, promoting education, reducing crime and replacing the narrative of border risks with one of football dreams and limitless possibilities.