Abuja-based indigene institutes football tournament, plans business branch, says it’s in response to Soun’s call
Femi OGUNLANA
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Chief Alhaji AbdulMajid Oladimeji Solademi, an Ogbomoso indigene based in Abuja Nigeria has instituted a football tournament at home declaring the gesture was in response to the admonition of the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III during a visit to northern states in 2024.
Alhaji Solademi, a businessman, explained during a telephone chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com that he was encouraged by the Soun’s charge for Ogbomoso indigenes in the diaspora to return home to invest as well as making other contributions towards changing the narratives of the community.
Solademi meanwhile also disclosed his father, a retired Custom officer and respected communiy leader, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Solademi a.k.a. Mento Gas, has in the same vein been drumming it to his ears to do something in Ogbomoso too.
“So, when the Kabiyesi urged passionately we should consider investing in our homeland l thought of how I would respond, so, we are starting with this,” he informed.
Solademi, who is also the chairman of Air Warriors Basketball Club based in Abuja, noted that he’s thus “propelled to extend his sports development initiative to my homeland.”
“So, l started with the football competition among our youths. Our goal is to discover talents and nurture them to stardom. In the future we will invite scouts, local and foreign ones. In fact l have been informed that the coach of Crown FC has identified one or two talents among the players participating in the competition and had invited them. That is one of the things we want to achieve. Next time l will invite my friends to contribute, l had done for them too. The competition will be bigger, and will be adding value.”
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His basketball team, Air Warriors Basketball Club, a female team, founded in 2019, has been participating in the national women basketball league and has won the league and other tournaments including the Zenith League Championship.
“If l am doing it outside Ogbomoso l am compelled to do at home also, moreover when my father and Kabiyesi Soun have also been preaching it. And we will do more. We will bring scouts in the future. One of our basketball players Murjanatu Musa has become a global icon in basketball. We are committed to developing sports in Nigeria and Ogbomoso in particular,” he added.
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He also disclosed he was planning on moving one of his businesses to Ogbomoso. He is into clearing and forwarding and has an agency engaged in this. “I will,” when asked. ”With the planned Airport in Ibadan, my clearing and forwarding agency will thrive in Ogbomoso. We take goods to the doorsteps of our clients and other things.”
The football competition, organised under his foundation, Yajifarz Foundation, going on at the Ogbomoso Grammar School, has entered the semifinal stage, which will be played next week.
