By BlackBox Nigeria
A new grassroots football academy, Igbogbo United Football Academy Limited, is set to officially launch on Sunday, January 8, 2026, in Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, with a mission to discover, nurture, and empower young football talents within the community.
The academy, founded by sports enthusiast Bolaji Musa, is targeted at engaging children and teenagers from an early age, using football as a tool for discipline, personal development, and access to life-changing opportunities.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Musa said the initiative was born out of a desire to address the growing need for structured youth engagement in Igbogbo and its surrounding communities.
“There is so much raw talent on the streets of Ikorodu, but many young people lack the right environment, guidance, and exposure to develop their potential. Igbogbo United Football Academy is designed to catch them young, give them proper training, and open doors that football can provide both locally and internationally,” he said.
The location of the academy in Igbogbo is particularly significant, given the community’s growing youth population and long-standing passion for football, despite limited access to formal sports development structures. Like many fast-expanding communities in Lagos, Igbogbo has a large number of young people with energy and ambition but few organised platforms to channel their talents productively.
Situating the academy within the community aims to reduce barriers such as distance, cost, and lack of exposure, ensuring that talented children are not excluded simply because of where they live. The academy is also expected to serve as a safe, structured space that keeps young people engaged, reduces idleness, and offers positive alternatives to social vices.
The academy will focus on grassroots football development, combining technical training with values such as teamwork, discipline, education, and community responsibility. Beyond football skills, the programme aims to shape well-rounded individuals who can become positive role models within Igbogbo and beyond.
Igbogbo United Football Academy hopes to position its players to compete beyond local leagues and attract attention from scouts and partner institutions in the future.
