3rd Olota Football Competition: Apt Scholars College, Vicona Private School Emerge Champions

 3rd Olota Football Competition: Apt Scholars College, Vicona Private School Emerge Champions

Apt Scholars Universal College and Vicona Private School have emerged champions at the Male and Female categories of the *2025 Olota Cup Football Competition* which held on Friday 19th 2025 at the Sports Centre of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State.

In the male category, Apt Scholars Universal College clinched the 3rd edition title after edging Vicona Private School in a keenly contested competition, forcing Vicona to finish as first runner-up.

 However, the female category saw Vicona Private School turn the tables, as they defeated  Apt Scholars Universal College with 1-0 to emerge champions, with Apt Scholars settling for second place.

The thrilling final matches, drew an impressive turnout of traditional rulers, community leaders, sports stakeholders, enthusiasts and dignitaries to the Bells University Sports Centre.

Among the prominent traditional rulers in attendance were the Onilogbo of Ilogbo Asowo, the Seriki of Ota, the Baamolu and the Oteku of Ota Awori Land. 

Others are Oba Elegushi and Onijana of Ijana who were ably represented,  Several Baales from Ota and neighbouring communities equally graced the occasion.

The Sports Director of Bells University of Technology, Dr. Oyewole Oluwapamilerin, attended alongside a team of staff members from the university.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology (BellsTech), Professor Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran, commended the organisers, Travellers Network Magazine, for initiating the grassroots football tournament. He was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ngozi Ugo Arisa, who expressed delight at seeing young people channeling their energy into sports rather than social vices.

Professor Arisa encouraged the organisers to sustain the initiative as a means of steering youths away from drug abuse, fraud, prostitution, cultism and other vices, while promoting discipline and healthy competition. 

She commended the performance of the female players, urging them to remain focused on both their education and sporting careers, and rise above limiting stereotypes that confine women to domestic roles.

Speaking after the tournament, the Olota of Ota, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Professor) Adeyemi Abdukabir Obalanlege, Lanlege Ekun II,  lauded the organisers for the kind gesture and called on stakeholders to invest more in youth development through sports.

 The monarch noted that sports can uplift families and communities, while pledging his support for the continuity of the annual competition.

Similarly, the Onijana of Ijana Quarters, HRH Oba Clement, a former footballer, disclosed that he once ran a football club in Ota and appealed to well-meaning individuals and philanthropists to support the initiative.

At the presentation ceremony, Oba Obalanlege presented trophies and medals to the winners of the male category, while Professor Ngozi Ugo Arisa gave awards to the female champions.

The publisher of Travellers Network Magazine and organiser of the event, Mr. Olaniyi Akinbode, described the tournament as a resounding success. 

He acknowledged minor challenges encountered during the competition but assured that such issues would be addressed in future editions. He also expressed appreciation to Oba Obalanlege, sponsors and supporters for their unwavering support.

The highlight of the event was the lifting of the 3rd Olota Cup Football Championship trophy by Olawuyi Pelumi the captain of Apt Scholars Universal College in the male category and  Ekumabor Treasure captain of Vicona Private School in the female category.

The 2024/2025 Olota Cup officially kicked off  November 24, 2025, with a colourful opening ceremony that reaffirmed the Awori Kingdom’s commitment to youth empowerment and grassroots sports development. The tournament was declared open by Oba Obalanlege at the Bells University Stadium, where Khafifat School and Scholars School played an entertaining opening match that ended in a 2–0 . 

The 3rd  edition of the competition was sponsored and supported by Intercontinental Distilleries Limited (IDL), Olam Agri, Pardee Foods Nigeria Limited, Fidelity Bank, ACP Olushola Oladele (Area Commander, Sango), the DPO Sango-Ota, DPO Onipanu-Ota, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), So-Safe Corps, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, KPL, Unikom, Pocari Sweat, Bells University of Technology, Nigerian Breweries among others.