The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ile-Ife

  • Ile -Ife launches 5Km Cultural Road Race for youth  empowerment

    Ile -Ife launches 5Km Cultural Road Race for youth  empowerment

    In what promises to be a vibrant celebration of athleticism, culture and community development, the maiden  Ife Road Race is set to hold September 25.

    Scheduled to hold during the iconic Olojo Festival, the 5-kilometre race aims to discover and nurture raw athletic talent while promoting healthy living and preserving Yoruba heritage.

    Conceived by Sooko Adeleke Odewade, a passionate advocate of youth empowerment, the race is part of a broader mission to use sports as a tool for transformation.

     “Our society lacks opportunities for discovering and grooming talent,” Sooko Odewade said. “This race is a platform to identify raw potential, but it won’t stop there. We’re building a system of coaching, mentorship, and support long after the race ends.”

    With the gracious endorsement of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ife Road Race is being organised in partnership with the Alade’fa Athletic Family Initiative, and is open to youth, amateur runners, and professional athletes.

    Participants will receive certificates of participation, with special cash prizes for category winners.

    Read Also: 2025  AFCON: NFF unveils ‘Mission X’ campaign for Super Falcons

    The race route has been carefully designed to pass through notable cultural landmarks in Ile-Ife, offering a scenic tour of the city’s rich heritage.

    Beyond competition, the race will connect promising young athletes with seasoned professionals, coaches, and institutions.

    Discussions are ongoing with universities, the state sports council, and veteran athletes—many of whom now thrive abroad—to provide post-race coaching and scholarship opportunities.

    “We want to help these young ones become world-class athletes. If we can create role models from this effort, the ripple effect will inspire many others,” Sooko Odewade added.

    The event also aims to boost local economic activity by attracting visitors, vendors, and sponsors during the Olojo Festival period.

    Organisers are calling on corporate bodies, brands, government agencies, and philanthropists to support the race through sponsorship and partnership.

    “This is more than a race,” said an official from the Alade’fa Initiative. “It’s a movement. An investment in youth, in health, and in the cultural soul of our community.”

    Registration is now open for interested participants via the official race platforms. Categories are available for youth, the general public, and elite runners, with limited slots to ensure a smooth and safe experience.

    Organisers have also issued a call for sponsors, volunteers, media partners, and local businesses to come on board and contribute to the success of this unique event.

    With its blend of tradition, purpose, and athletic energy, the Ife Road Race is set to become a new flagship event on Nigeria’s sports and cultural calendar.

  • Man rejects family’s shrine leadership in Ile-Ife, goes into hiding

    Man rejects family’s shrine leadership in Ile-Ife, goes into hiding

    Residents of Ile-Ife have been talking about the strange case of Mr. Azeez Rasheed, who has been missing from his home since June 3rd, 2022.

     Neighbours said the father and devoted Muslim fled his residence at 13, Ooni Ilare Street Ile-Ife, after pressure from extended family to take up a role he strongly refused.

    According to reports, the family insisted that Rasheed must become the new “Head of Abore” at the Sasara Shrine located at Ejesi Ika Compound, Oduduwa College Road, Ogbondo, Ile-Ife, a position traditionally passed down in his lineage. 

    But Rasheed, who has been practicing Islam since childhood under the care of his uncle, rejected the request on religious grounds.

    Tension escalated after the death of his father in 2022. Family members repeatedly visited his home to demand that he assume the shrine leadership as the first son of the deceased. 

    Things allegedly turned violent when, during one of those visits, an Orisha priest slapped Rasheed’s wife, accusing her of hiding her husband. 

    On another occasion, a tenant reportedly that a ritual sacrifice was dropped at his doorstep, an act that frightened neighbors and pushed Rasheed to go into hiding with his family.

    When our correspondent spoke with shrine leaders, Chief Ifagbemi, the Abore of the shrine, insisted that there was no intention to harm Rasheed. 

    “We only want to carry out what the ancestors demand. As long as he is alive, it is compulsory he becomes the Head of Abore,” he said.

    Another elder, Chief Ifakale, admitted that emissaries had been sent “by force” to persuade him.

    Not everyone agrees with the shrine’s position. Pastor Gabriel, a local cleric familiar with the family, described Rasheed’s decision to run as the only way to save his life. 

    He recalled that in 2015, Rasheed’s uncle who also resisted becoming Head of Abore was mysteriously killed. “It’s either you accept or they kill you spiritually. I know what happened to his uncle, and I fear the same fate could befall him,” he said.

    Rasheed’s mother, Mrs. Lassi Omoyemi, broke down in tears during an interview.

    She pleaded for her son’s safety, saying she could not bear to lose him the way she lost her brother-in-law years ago.

    Imam Daud Imam of Rasheed’s mosque condemned the situation, calling it an infringement on religious freedom. 

    “Faith is a personal choice. No one should be forced into roles that go against their beliefs. We urge the authorities to intervene,” the imam said.

    For now, the whereabouts of Rasheed and family remain unknown. 

    Neighbours and community leaders are hoping for a peaceful resolution to what has become a troubling clash between tradition and personal faith in Ile-Ife.