As part of activities for the celebration of the 10th edition of the Eledumare festival, the Oodua People’s Congress, under the Olokun Festival Foundation, has held a boxing competition.
The competition, on Tuesday, had in attendance the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams.
The event, which is the Day 15 programme of the OFF and held in Ketu, Lagos, had other prominent dignitaries, including members of the National Executive Council and National Coordinating Council of the OPC.
The competition was among various Boxing Clubs, including Strong-Rock, Good By Force, Ibukun and God-First.
In the 22kg bout, Adebayo Muiz from the Strong Rock defeated Faruq Okeowo of Good By Force.
Meanwhile, in the 28kg bout, Olakanmi Lawal of Strong Force defeated Ife Agbogidi.
Yekinni Azeez of Strong Force also defeated Muhammad Babatunde of Ibukun Boxing Club.
In his speech, Iba Adams praised the efforts of Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area chapter of the OPC, saying sport tourism is one of the tools needed to take the Nigerian youths off the streets.
He added that the idea of praising and celebrating Eledumare festival with various activities, including sports and cultural fiesta, is to honour God and champion culture renaissance.
He said: “I thank Agboyi Ketu Coordinator of the OPC, Mr. Azeez Jimoh, for his commitment to the ideal of the group.
“I appreciate the referees and officials of the boxing competition.
“It is our own way of identifying grassroots talents.
“The boxing bout has shown a lot of innate talents waiting to be explored.
“It is also a reflection of the determination of our youths to surmount all major challenges in life.
“So, I am happy that in our own little way, OPC and Olokun Festival Foundation have done well In promoting sports and also identifying the zeal in our youths.”
Jimoh applauded the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland for bridging the gap between the young and the old and the rich and the poor people at the grassroots.
He said: “With this boxing competition, we have shown to the world that OPC is a sociocultural organisation that is poised to promote the cultural identity of Yoruba race and also project the true identity of Yoruba race.
“We will continue to be a blessing to to the youths.”
Royal host, the Alaketu of Ketu, Oba Isiaq Adio Balogun, also eulogised Iba Adams for his consistency in using cultural events to drive the economic prosperity of the South West.
Oba Balogun said: “What Aare Gani Adams is doing by promoting culture and tradition is nothing but a service to God and to humanity.
“He definitely needs nobody to tell him that there is reward for his cultural evangelism.
“Today, Aare Gani Adams remains the only crusader that preaches the gospel of cultural renaissance and I am happy for him.”