IDERA Foundation Launches U-17 Football Competition to Promote Talent Development in Ogun East
ABEOKUTA – The IDERA Foundation has announced the maiden edition of its Grassroots Under-17 Invitational Secondary Schools Sports-for-Development Football Competition, tagged IDERA U-17 Ogun East Cup 2026, aimed at discovering and nurturing young football talents across Ogun East Senatorial District.
The tournament, according to the foundation, will bring together nine secondary schools, with one school representing each of the nine Local Government Areas in the senatorial district.
The participating local government areas are Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu North, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu East, Odogbolu, Ikenne, Sagamu, Remo North and Ogun Waterside.
The competition is scheduled to hold from December 5 to 15, 2026, at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, and Sagamu International Stadium.
The foundation said all participating players must be under 17 years of age and currently enrolled in school.
According to a statement by the Chairman, Main Organizing Committee, Prof. Oluwaseun Omotayo, the tournament is designed to go beyond football by promoting unity between the Ijebus and Remos, identifying promising talents and placing them on a structured pathway towards professional football.
It would also feature initiatives aimed at encouraging children to remain in school, while exposing them to life-skills education, including campaigns against drug abuse and cultism.
The organisers said the competition would also provide opportunities for players to be observed by national and international football scouts, with the objective of creating professional and enterprise opportunities through the sport.
As part of preparations for the tournament, the foundation announced plans to inaugurate the Main Organising Committee (MOC).
The inauguration is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Olu Akewusola Billiard Hall, Ijebu-Ode Club, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
The International Sports Institute Educational Trust Ltd/Gte (ISI) will serve as the technical partner for the competition.
The foundation said the initiative was conceived as a grassroots sports-for-development programme designed to use football as a platform for talent discovery, education, youth development and social integration across Ogun East.
