The founder of Saka Eletu Foundation, Hon. Yusuf Eletu Saka, has expressed his desire to float a Football Academy in Ilorin, sometimes in the future, hopeful soon.
He made this known today Friday, February 21, 2025, during an interaction with Newsmen in Ilorin the Kwara State capital, as the preparation for the grand finale of this year’s Saka Eletu All-Stars Football completion, gets to its crescendo.
The Abuja-based Real Estate mogul, who never really did any particular sports, growing up, according to him, said he just loves sports and enjoys watching, especially football, basketball, and others.
The University of Ilorin graduate provided an insight into the enormity of potential Kwara State has, and how that can be harnessed to the advantage of the youths, and the society at large, saying “sports, like football is tool for bringing people together, and connecting people across different divides, ethnic, religion, politics, even race. So his belief in the unity of the people, irrespective of their background, religious or political affiliations is a driving force for him to keep investing in sports.
The aspirants for the House of Representatives seat for the Ilorin East/Ilorin East Federal constituency in the 2023 general election said he has a friend who, is from Kwara, but has never been home, plays abroad.
That friend, according to him, makes him think about the numerous talents he came across when he attended matches in a grassroots football competition at Mount Camel, organised by a prominent football development veteran in Kwara State, Mr. Babatunde Silalihu Afase.
He said he’d been thinking about how he could help polish those “rough diamonds”, like the ones who featured at the competition, and expose them to international scouts with a view to securing professional contracts for them abroad. That, according to him, would empower them economically, lift their families out of poverty, and also take such youths off the street, away from crime.
When asked whether he is the Kwara State’s answer to Ogun State’s Hon. Kunle Soname (the Proprietor of Remo Stars Football club, he answered in the affirmative, saying “In Sha Allah”, followed by laughter.
Hon. Soname is currently the highest private investor in the Nigerian Football industry, with Remo Stars football club (men and women) plus academies that serve as feeder teams for both, and a CAF-approved stadium in Ìjẹ̀bú-Ode, Ogun State.
On the grand finale of the “Saka Eletu All Stars Football Competition”, coming up at the Rashidi Yekini Main-Bowl of the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, by 10am this Saturday, it is one of the eloquent testimonies to Saka’s passion for investment in (sports) people, particularly, the youths.
