BREAKING! Awodeji Ogunleye emerges winner of Ayo Olopon competition

The 4th edition of Idije Ayo Olopon has come and gone but the impact it made will never be forgotten so soon.

The competition which took place in Abeokuta, Ogun state on Thursday, 8th Of August, 2019 at June 12 Cultural center saw Mr Awodeji Ogunleye, the contestant from Ekiti state as the new champion of the game in the southwest region of Nigeria. The contestants of the competition include players from Ekiti, Osun, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo state.

The competition wasn’t the usual one, it brought a lot of surprises as some of the contestants were learned and well educated, contrary to the notion of people that Ayo Olopon is only for illiterates and old fashioned people and that chess is the game for the younger ones.

While speaking with the winner, Awodeji Ogunleye, he made it known that it wasn’t an easy task becoming the champion because his fellow contestants were equally up to the task but thanked God for making him victorious. He lauded the organizers of the competition for lifting the culture and tradition of Nigeria with Idije Ayo Olopon.

He further acknowledged the selfless service of the brain behind the game, Lanre Laoshe Foundation for the trophy and cash price he was given as the winner of the competition.

The event had lots of dignitaries in attendance, the likes of former Nigerian footballer, Segun Odegbami, the representative of the Olubara of Ibara, the Kabiesi, the national Vice-Chairman of traditional sport from Abuja, Mr Bashiru Augusto, Rep of DG of Lagos sport commission represented by Mrs Olubummi Ojo, the secretary of the commission, a guest from Benin republic, to mention a few, attended.

Furthermore, the coordinator of the competition, Mr Kehinde Oladehinde congratulated the winner, Mr Awodeji Ogunleye for his victory because it was a tensed competition and made it known that for him to have won, he must be a genius.

He, however, pleaded for more support for competition in subsequent editions especially from the media organizations to help propagate the culture of the Nigerian society.