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.

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."