Hundreds of youths have participated in a series of friendly football
matches organised to raise awareness and provide viable alternatives to the
menace of irregular migration amongst Nigerian youths.
The friendly matches which featured exceptional play-off between six
teams was organised by The Migrant Project on Sunday at the Ejigbo mini-stadium
in Ejigbo, Lagos.
According to the organisers, the football matches were aimed at taking
the messages on the risks and realities of irregular migration to youths at the
grassroot, in the spirit of the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Starting off the matches was the play-off between two junior teams,
the Golden Star FC and the Diamond FC. The match ended in 2 - 0 in favour of
the Diamond FC.
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Some players and members of the Migrant Project |
The senior category featured fiercely contested matches between
Success FC and the Golden Star FC. The match ended goalless and resulted in a
penalty shootout which was won by Success FC.
Similarly, the Invincible FC played against the Bright Star FC,
another senior match which ended in penalty shootout in favour of the
Invincible FC.
Team Lead, Local Migration Experts for The Migrant Project in Lagos,
Olusoji Ajao said that the matches in Ejigbo are a part of the project's
programme lineup to expand the campaign against irregular migration in Lagos
and Nigeria.
He said "This is part of our robust community outreach programmes
against irregular migration in Lagos. In coming days, we shall visit other locations
in Lagos for several matches for both male and female football players and
lovers."
According to the facility manager of the Ejigbo mini-stadium, Gbenga
Popoola, the matches and awareness campaign are a timely intervention to
enlighten several youths who have been a victim or intend to embark on
irregular migration on the dangers of such act.
Media officer for the project, Tayo Elegbede noted that over 1,000
people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in the first six months of the year
while hundreds of thousands are dead in the desert and many experiencing grave
inhuman treatments in Libya in their quest to travel to Europe through
irregular routes.
He said "The Migrant Project is a behavourial change campaign,
which aims to fill existing information gaps and enable Nigerians make informed
decisions knowing that irregular migration is never a good option."
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