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•In Ikola Command Ipaja, Lagos
Residents and football enthusiasts in the Ikola Odunsi, Ipaja area of Lagos have raised concerns over the alleged takeover of the Lolade grassroots football field, urging relevant authorities and individuals involved to preserve the facility for youth and grassroots sports development.
The football pitch, which residents said has existed for more than 20 years, has reportedly served as a recreational and sporting centre for young people in the community. According to residents, the field has played an important role in nurturing youths, some of whom have gone on to occupy prominent positions in different sectors of society.
The residents alleged that the facility is being taken over by the Chairman of Oke-Odo Local Community Development Area (LCDA), Abiodun Jimoh Ejigbadero. They described the development as an alleged illegal takeover and warned prospective land buyers against purchasing or dealing in the property.
In a statement circulated through various social media platforms, youths from the community appealed for the preservation of the football field, recalling its importance to generations of young people in Ikola Odunsi.
“Sometimes, you pass through a place and all you see is a piece of land. But for those of us who know the story of Lolade’s Field at Ikola Odunsi, it is much more than that.
“It is a memory. It is a chapter of our youth. It is a part of who we became.
“Twenty years ago, this place looked completely different. It was bushy, quiet and almost forgotten. But one young man, Lolade, had a different vision. He wanted to bring the youths of Ikola Odunsi together.
“And from that simple dream, something beautiful was born.
“We came together. We cleared the bushes. We worked with our hands. We turned an ordinary piece of land into a place where young people could come every evening after the day’s hustle.
“Those evenings—the sound of football being kicked around, the laughter, the arguments over who won the match, the friendships, jokes, teasing and competition—became unforgettable moments.
“For many of us, Lolade’s Field was where childhood slowly turned into adulthood. It was where we met people who became lifelong friends. It was where young boys discovered their passion and began to believe they could become something greater.
“Amazingly, some of the talents that emerged from that field went on to make names for themselves far beyond Ikola Odunsi and even beyond Nigeria.
“Think about it: a place that was once covered in bushes became a place where dreams took root.
“Years have passed. People have grown. Some have travelled far away. Some have built families and become successful, while some are no longer with us to relive these memories.
“But whenever we remember Lolade’s Field, we remember the younger versions of ourselves—the boys who had big dreams but little money.”
The youths appealed to Ejigbadero to leave the football field untouched, stressing that the facility remains an important part of the community’s history and a valuable space for youth development.
They also called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to intervene and ensure that the field remains available for grassroots football and community recreation.
