St. James Secondary School and Kwara Ladies Football Club have won the Schools and Clubs competitions of the 2nd First Lady six-a-side female football tournament decided at the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin on Saturday February 10, 2024.
Six Schools and six clubs participated in the two categories of the competition, which was Organised by the Female Football Development Committee of the Kwara State Football Association, being led by Hajia Segilola Alaya.
In the Schools category, St James CAC defeated United Community Secondary School 3-1 on penalties, after playing out a goalless draw at regulation time, while Kwara Ladies defeated Moje Queens of Erin-Ile 2-0 to emerge winners in tbe clubs category.
Abruka Queens defeated Model FA 3-0 in the third place match of the clubs category to cart home the bronze medal.
The First Lady, Ambassador Professor (Dr) Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, who was represented at the ocassion by tbe Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji commend the organisers for the honour done her with the competition, which she says, is a platform to empower and add value to the lives of the girl-child in the state.
“Our interventions, being undertaken under the Ajike People’s Support Centre is also capturing the care for the girl-child, and we are supporting this window which was deliberately initiated to fish out hidden talents, especially from the grassroots.
“My office and the Ajike People Support Center are open to more plausible partnership and collaborations towards empowering and meaningfully engaging the girl-child, especially through sports. I commend the Kwara State Football Association for their support in our quest to ensure that our girls are duly engaged in productive ventures.
“We will continue to work closely with the Kwara State Football Association Female Football Development Committee, being led by Hajia Segilola Alaya, to fashion out and also broaden the existing numerous intervention and empowerment opportunities for the girl-child in the state.
“I will also want to encourage parents to enroll their wards in sporting activities, even as I will want to appeal to stakeholders to contribute to the development of female football in the state.
“Even though the winners in the two categories have emerged, but to us, we are all winners, because we are celebrating women and their values in the society.
Her Excellency commended all those that contributed to the success of the competition.
Earlier in her welcome address, Hajia Alaya commended the First Lady for supporting the initiative.
“I commend the First Lady, Ambassador Professor (Dr) Mrs Olufolake Ajike AbdulRazaq, for encouraging us to embark on this fruitful journey of making our girl-child meaningful to the society through football.
“Our efforts are complementary to the huge investment of the state government towards the growth of youth and sports.
Hajia Alaya commended the Kwara State Football Association, the State Sports Commission, Kwara FA, State Football Referees Council, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and other stakeholders, for their support.
Among the dignitaries that witnessed the ocassion are the husband of the Organiser, Alhaji Abdullahi Alaya, Alhaji Yinka Yahaya Oriokoh, the General Manager of Radio Kwara, Alhaji Kayode Aremu, the Director of Sports, Mallam Ibrahim Bako, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkadri (Gambus), Alhaji Adeshina Bello, Alhaji Bolaji Umar Yahaya, Hon. Umulkhaer Onaolamipo Ahmed Alaiye, and Hon. Abdullateef Femi Salawu among others.
