28/10/2025
9th Gbemiga Trust Southwest U-14 Badminton Tournament Concludes in Style
The 9th edition of the Gbemiga Trust Badminton Tournament for Southwest Under-14 players came to a thrilling close on Friday, after two days of intense and exciting rallies among young badminton talents from across the region.
The tournament, which kicked off on Thursday, showcased the growing strength of youth badminton in the Southwest, as promising stars displayed remarkable skill, discipline, and sportsmanship in their quest for glory.
In the Boys’ Singles category, Okako Victor from Ondo State and Shoyomi Tobiloba from Ogun State both clinched bronze medals, while Adenekan Samuel of Ogun State won the silver medal. The coveted gold medal went to Oyinolola Daniel of Lagos State, whose performance kept spectators on their feet.
The Girls’ Singles category also witnessed a strong showing from the host state, with Oguntola Salimot and Koleosho Nofisat of Ogun State taking the bronze medals. The silver medal went to Naomi Bello of Ogun State, while Omotayo Odunayo emerged as the gold medalist.
In the Boys’ Doubles, Tokede Damilare and Dada Sulaiman (Ogun State) tied for bronze with Tega Emojorho and Abubakar Adams (Lagos State). The silver medals were won by Oyinolola Daniel and Tiwase Elisha (Lagos State), while Adenekan Samuel and Shoyomi Tobiloba (Ogun State) took the gold medals.
For the Girls’ Doubles, Afolabi Adekola (Oyo State) and Audu Jubrin (Lagos State) won bronze, while Koleosho and Oguntola (Ogun State) took the silver. The gold medals went to Odunayo and Bello, both representing Ogun State.
The event, chaired by Hon. Gbeminiyi Ijaola, had Mr. Tayo Akinfe as the Chief Host, and was graced by several dignitaries, including Mr. Babatunde Badru, former Head Coach of Badminton in Ogun State, and Mr. Adewale Adedokun, Director of Administration and Supplies, Ogun State Sports Council, who represented the Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Oluseyi Shunde.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Adedokun commended the Gbemiga Trust Foundation for its sustained support towards grassroots badminton development. He described the tournament as a “worthy platform for discovering and nurturing future badminton stars” and urged the young players to remain disciplined, focused, and dedicated to their sporting dreams. He also reaffirmed the Ogun State Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote youth development through sports.
In her goodwill message, Nigeria’s national badminton champion, Dorcas Adesokan, applauded the Foundation and its founder, Mr. Tayo Akinfe, for their continuous investment in badminton and their role in shaping her own career journey. She presented a special gift to appreciate the Foundation’s unwavering support for young athletes.
Giving the vote of thanks, the Chief Host, Mr. Tayo Akinfe, expressed deep appreciation to all participants, state contingents, officials, and guests for making the 9th edition a huge success. He extended heartfelt gratitude to the Ogun State Sports Council, coaches, and parents for their cooperation and commitment, promising that the Foundation would continue to create opportunities for young badminton players to thrive and excel.
The 9th Gbemiga Trust Southwest Under-14 Badminton Tournament once again reaffirmed the Foundation’s vision of nurturing grassroots talents and promoting the growth of badminton across the Southwest region.
