A regional under-19 football competition in memory of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, will soon kick off among states that formed the bulk of the Old Western Region.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, organizers of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo Football Cup said the under-19 football event will draw young football players from Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ogun states in the bid to re-enact the spirit of unity among people in what used to be one political and cultural bloc. The Old Western region was created in 1953 by the colonial administrators based on common history and culture. The Governor's office in Ekiti State is the coordinating headquarter of the event.

According to the statement signed by the Special Adviser on Regional Integration in Lagos State, Rev Adetunji Adebiyi and the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs in Ekiti State, Mr Adewale Adeoye, the football completion named after the late statesman and first Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, will further unite the people of the South West, rekindle the spirit of brotherhood, constructively engage the huge population of young often idle children. It said the competition will also generate and recreate wealth. Football maestro, Chief Segun Odegbami is the head of the Technical Committee of the competition.

The event is also expected to raise the consciousness of the people on the link between sports and good health apart from promoting football talent hunt among young people under 18 years.

The duo said that “the competition is conceived to have not less than 48 matches, home and away with a grand finale. It is one of the most outstanding ways state governments can engage younger people irrespective of political, cultural or religious divides” adding that when younger people are constructively engaged, the risks of their being associated with social vices like kidnapping and terrorism