In a significant boost for grassroots sports in Lagos, a brand-new five-a-side football pitch has been officially opened at the Alade Sports Complex in the Alimosho Local Government Area. The facility, located in the Ajasa Ikola area of Command, is the result of a partnership between the mobile phone brand TECNO and the complex's proprietor, Prince Babatunde Alade.
A Partnership for Grassroots Development
The pitch was opened for public use on 24 December 2025, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties several months earlier. This project marks the second football facility delivered under TECNO's current sports-focused corporate social responsibility initiative, coming shortly after the commissioning of a similar project in Sura, Lagos Island.
Unlike the Sura facility, which was a public-private partnership with the Lagos State Government, the Ajasa Command pitch was developed through collaboration with a privately-owned community sports centre. Prince Babatunde Alade has independently owned and managed the Alade Sports Complex for nearly 25 years, dedicating it to youth engagement and football development at the grassroots level.
Community Pride and Talent Nurturing
The commissioning ceremony attracted community leaders, residents from Ajasa and neighbouring areas, and representatives from TECNO, including the company's Marketing Manager, Mr Olumide Yomi-Omolayo. The new pitch replaces older playing surfaces and is designed to support training, local competitions, and the discovery of football talent within the community.
Speaking at the event, a community leader from Amikanle, Elder Philip Ajayi, expressed profound pride in the new infrastructure. He highlighted that communities like Command are often overlooked for major sports projects, making this development a rare and valuable asset.
"This facility is a source of pride for us. Infrastructure like this is rare in grassroots communities, even though there is no shortage of talent," Ajayi stated. He praised Prince Alade's longstanding commitment, describing him as a grassroots coach and developer whose Alade Football Academy has produced national-level players.
He specifically mentioned that Basit Ojediran and Tijani Samson, who featured for Nigeria's Golden Eaglets at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, were discovered and nurtured through the academy.
Securing a Future for Local Football
Elder Ajayi emphasized that the partnership with TECNO has strengthened a local football structure that previously relied on limited personal funding. He believes the project will improve the long-term viability of the sports complex and create expanded opportunities for young, aspiring footballers in Alimosho and its environs.
This initiative is part of TECNO's broader engagement in sports, which includes sponsorship at the continental level, such as support for the Africa Cup of Nations. The company has indicated that additional community sports projects are expected in other parts of Nigeria.
The opening of the pitch at Alade Sports Complex stands as a testament to the power of corporate-community collaboration in addressing infrastructure gaps and fostering the next generation of sporting talent right from the grassroots.
