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Gbadebo’s Cup Edition: Azeez Adejumo Calls For Govt Support To Promote Agboyi Ketu Youth Talents Discovery …As Youths Celebrate Activist, Alex Omotehinse 

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The Lagos State Government has been urged to leave none of the youths in Agboyi Ketu Local  Council Development Area (LCDA) behind in promoting discovery of  talents, saying that the community has swimmers, graduates, musicians, footballers, and is still blessed with the good players of table tennis among others, who are hardworking youths.
This was disclosed on Saturday, during the flag off of the 2024 edition of Gbadebo’s Cup Football Competition held at Abule Gungo Field, Mile 12 beside Mobil filling station in commemoration of the birthday of Comrade Alex Gbadebo Omotehinse, which comes up on December 25.
Omotehinse is the President of Lagos-based Centre For Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR).
The Chairman of the Community Development Association of Owode-Orile of Agboyi Ketu LCDA, Hon. Azeez Adejumo expressed joy over the sporting event organised in the community, which brought the old residents of the community together featuring youth in Owode Orile, Alapere and Mile 12 together.
Hon. Adejumo then appealed to the government to settle the rifts among the warring parties in Agboyi Ketu for the progress of the community.
In the opening match Maro FC defeated Atlantic Warriors with 5:0.
According to a release signed by Coach Campo Muller, the Organising Secretary of the event, and dated Sunday December 15, “The football competition was put together by the youths in Mile 12 area of Lagos and it’s environs to celebrate and honour one of the best sons Mile 12 has produced, that have made us proud in person of our brother and friend, Gbadebo Alex Omotehinse.
“We all call him, Hyklass, based on his business name (Hyklass Nig. Enterprises), but he is well known across Nigeria as Comrade Alex, a notable human rights activist, and one of our brothers, Ismaila Kanu, whose birthday is also on December 25.
Muller stressed that the competition also serves as a tool to bring back unity in Mile 12 community and it’s environs, saying that Comrade Alex is a man of peace, who always preaches peace in the area anytime he is around and that he has organised peace talk among the warring factions in the interest of peaceful co-existence among Mile 12 youths.
“The first edition of the football competition started in 2023 with eight teams. In year 2024, being the second edition, the number of the participating teams has increased to 12 and the beauty of it is that we have teams from outside Mile 12 that have shown interest and joined in the race, which made us believe that we are progressing in the unity campaign.
“The final is on Christmas Day, December 25, the birthday of Comrade Gbadebo Alex Omotehinse (Hyklass), who we named the competition, “Gbadebo’s  Cup” after.
“On a last note, we enjoin all the youths in Mile 12 and all the warring factions in Mile 12 to sheath their swords and embrace peace in our community. Mile 12 shall be great again,” he said.
Commenting on the event in an interview, Comrade Alex Omotehinse said that he was caught unaware and that he really appreciated the organisers for counting him worthy of celebration out of thousands of his mates with whom he grew up in Mile 12 and it’s environs.
“I am elated, and happy beyond expression. I will also use this medium in calling on the warring factions that have been causing violence in Mile 12 since 2018 to please, please and please sheath their swords and embrace peace so that Mile 12 that houses one of the biggest perishable food stuffs markets in Africa can go back to its former position, where we all lived, dined and wined together irrespective of tribe and colour.
“Mile 12 has produced many great men and women in the past including Miss Florence Ayoka, the first best female swimmer in Nigeria, whose name was once in secondary school English textbook in the early 90s and thereabouts,” he said.
The activist recalled that they had lost so many generals in Mile 12 because of “the so-called unwarranted battle of supremacy among cult members in the community.”
He then enjoined the residents of the area to give peace a chance, saying that there is strength in unity as the saying goes that “a house that is divided against itself cannot stand.”
“This wonderful event organised by the youths in my honour speaks volume that whatever you are doing, do it very well and ensure you imbibe the culture of sincerity because some people are watching and monitoring all your steps.
“Therefore, I Comrade Alex Omotehinse hereby promise not to disappoint the Mile 12 youths and I shall never deviate. I will continue to promote the love and peace of Mile 12 anywhere I find myself anytime, any day. May God bless you all.
Mile 12 shall be great again,” he stated.
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