In a bid to foster unity among security agencies, the 2024 edition of the ValueJet/SWAN Security Cup, organized by the Ogun State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), is set to feature at least seven participating agencies.

The event will see these agencies competing for the prestigious trophy, with the tournament kicking off on Thursday.

The defending champion, Police Machine, have been drawn in Group A alongside the Nigeria Customs Service,

 Ogun State Fire Service, and debutants Federal Road Safety Corps. Group B comprises last year’s finalists, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and newcomers, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The draw ceremony, held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, was graced by the Ogun State SWAN Chairman, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji.

 In his address, Ogunsiji emphasized the competition’s goal of promoting unity and friendship among the security outfits. 

He extended his gratitude to ValueJet Airline, the title sponsor of the tournament’s fourth edition, and urged other corporate organizations and philanthropists to support the initiative, ensuring the event’s continued growth.

Uchechi Achomadu, Head of Marketing at ValueJet Nigeria, expressed the airline’s pride in being the official sponsor. 

She announced a cash prize of one million naira for the tournament’s winners and disclosed that branded jerseys would be provided for the four teams that reach the semi-finals. 

Achomadu assured the participating teams of ValueJet Airline’s commitment to the competition’s success.

The Guinness World Record longest-ever chess marathon player, Mr Tunde Onakoya has been honoured by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state as the state official sport ambassador.

Tunde Onakoya who played the game of chess for 60 hours at Times Square in New York, United States to set the world record paid a courtesy visit the Gov Dapo Abiodun at his Governor’s office, Oke Mosan Abeokuta in company of his parent.

According to the report from the Governor’s office:

We have received Mr. Tunde Onakoya, a truly remarkable son of the soil who holds the prestigious title of National Master of Chess and the current Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in history. It is evident why he serves as an inspiration to countless young individuals throughout our great nation.
 
However, Mr. Onakoya’s influence extends far beyond his accomplishments in the world of chess. In his unwavering determination to make a difference, he has established a foundation entitled ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ with a heartfelt mission to share his own story, uplift and motivate underprivileged children, and guide them towards a brighter future outside the boundaries of slums. It is indeed awe-inspiring to witness his relentless dedication.
 
Today, it is our distinct honour to appoint Mr. Tunde Onakoya as the state’s official sports ambassador. Coincidentally, our very own Ogun State is set to host the highly anticipated National Sports Festival in approximately nine months. We are incredibly proud to declare that we aim to orchestrate the most outstanding national sports festival in the history of our beloved country. Interestingly, chess stands as one of the captivating events to be showcased during this incredible occasion.

 
In recognition of Mr. Onakoya’s exceptional contributions, we have unanimously decided to inaugurate the inaugural Ogun State Chess Competition, spanning across every corner of our state. Given his esteemed appointment as our Sports and Chess Ambassador, we entrust Mr. Onakoya to design this prestigious competition, commencing from the grassroots level all the way up to the grand state finale.
 
As the state government, we are thrilled to announce the Tunde Onakoya Prize, a sponsorship dedicated to rewarding the ultimate victor of this exhilarating chess competition. This prize symbolises our deep appreciation for Mr. Onakoya’s unwavering commitment to his craft and his unwavering desire to elevate the realm of chess within our state.
 
Together, we embark on a journey of sporting excellence, unity, and empowerment, firmly guided by the remarkable leadership of Mr. Tunde Onakoya.

After it’s announcement of INSIDE OGUN MAGAZINE, a reputable media outfit as it’s official media partner, Egba Youth Football Championship (EYFC) has taken a giant step further with a partnership arrangement with a leading data analytics platform, MADE IN AFRICA SPORT (MIAS).

The strategic partnership move to make MIAS the official data partner for this year edition of the championship was concluded few days ago.

This partnership between EYFC and MIAS, two organisations at the heart of grassroots football, is an opportunity to contribute significantly to the development of football, a sport that unites and inspires African youth.

“We are happy and proud of this partnership with EYFC, it represents a major stake in our desire to make African football a world reference,” said Temitope Ayoade, Head of Data Analytics at Made In Africa Sport.

“Through our comprehensive coverage, players and clubs will gain increased visibility both locally and globally, potentially opening up opportunities for their career advancement and sponsorship deals.”

“Our data analytics capabilities will also provide valuable insights into players’ performance and tactics, enabling the clubs to identify areas for improvement and refine their strategies for better on-field performance.” Ayoade concluded.

Made In Africa Sport comprises a dynamic team of young journalists, fact-checkers, data analysts, and machine learning engineers who are passionate about becoming the largest sports editorial team on the continent. Our dedication to providing data-driven content to sports fans across Africa and beyond, coupled with our commitment to addressing the challenges faced by African athletes, makes us an ideal partner for EYFC 2024.

Through this partnership, Made In Africa Sport will utilise its platform to provide comprehensive coverage of EYFC 2024, offering interactive dashboards and visualisations that present actionable insights in a user-friendly manner. These will include, but are not limited to, match overviews (date, teams involved, historical meetings, head to heads), league information (group standings, fixture, results, tournament brackets), player statistics (minutes played, goals, assists, shots on target, tackles won, passes completed, crosses attempted, cards received), team statistics (possession, shots on target, shots off target, corners won, fouls committed), and many more.

The 2024 tournament will be the fifth edition, featuring 27 teams competing in 49 games. The matches will commence with a round-robin group stage from Friday, 19 April to Sunday, 5 May 2024, followed by a single-elimination knockout stage from Friday, 10 May to Sunday, 2 June 2024, at the Muda Lawal Stadium, Abeokuta.

Originating in 2018 as the Abeokuta Youth Football Championship, the tournament underwent a rebranding in 2019, adopting the name Egba Youth Football Championship to encompass the six local government areas in Ogun Central Senatorial District.

The 2020 and 2023 editions faced disruptions, with the former attributed to the global football calendar’s Covid-19-induced hiatus and the latter to administrative reasons.

In the last edition held in 2022, Ajax Sporting Club emerged victorious after a 1-0 win over Trace FC in the final at the Muda Lawal Stadium, Abeokuta.