On February 5, 2025, the Hasinah Restaurant and Confectionery in Dutse, Jigawa State, buzzed with anticipation as the Gadawur Championship 2025, a unique 5-aside championship and initiative of BALLUP by Dayo Abiola Consulting – Nigeria’s foremost logo design company, was officially launched at its press conference. The event marked the beginning of a transformative journey for grassroots football with the objective of supporting grassroots football by empowering talented players who play on the streets of Dutse.
Mr. Dayo Abiola, Creative Director of Dayo Abiola Consulting Ltd, anchored the event, alongside Mr. Thomas Ukubile, Managing Director of Komplete Konsult and former Fidelity Bank Operations Manager, and Sanni Hujjatullah Abdulkareem, Corporate Strategy Specialist of Dayo Abiola Consulting Ltd.
A highlight of the press conference was the unveiling of the Gadawur Championship/25 logo by Mr. Dayo Abiola. He passionately explained the logo’s symbolic meaning, detailing how its elements and colors were carefully chosen to reflect the tournament’s identity and resonate with the philosophical origins of Dutse. He emphasized the logo’s representation of unity, strength, and aspiration, mirroring the spirit of the championship.
Mr. Dayo Abiola reiterated the championship’s commitment to being a private sector-driven initiative, highlighting the generous support of shown by key partners: Adediji Construction Ltd, Hasinah Restaurant and Confectionery Limited and DecorDo Arewa. He emphasized that the Gadawur Championship will continue to be a platform that avails the public sector the avenue to contribute to grassroots development through the sport most youths love to play and watch and build their fan groups around.
Mr. Dayo Abiola stated, “As a private sector-driven project, we are dedicated to branding grassroots football in Dutse, empowering local talent, and creating lasting opportunities for our youth. We believe this championship will ignite a passion for football and foster community spirit.” The overall aim, as a corporate identity consulting company, is to see to it that we play our part in ensuring Dutse, Jigawa state, is highlighted favorably for something unique on the Nation’s scoreboard of youth impact. This will be achieved using imagery and narratives that tell the story of passion and community spirit in a way never before expressed.
The inaugural edition of the Gadawur Championship/25 will feature 14 teams competing over four weeks, with a total cash prize of 500,000 Naira. The tournament aims to provide a platform for talented youths to showcase their skills, turning their dreams into reality on the astro-turf.
During the conference, Mr. Sanni Hujjatullah acknowledged the presence of key officials from Albarka Hospital, NDLEA, and the Nigeria Police. He expressed that their presence represented the tournament’s objective and world-class approach in several key areas. Regarding Albarka Hospital, he emphasized the importance of professional medical presence to ensure that any injuries sustained during the championship would be treated by qualified medical personnel. Addressing the NDLEA representatives, Mr. Sanni Hujjatullah conveyed that the championship serves as a clarion call to discourage youths from drugs and harmful substances, encouraging them to focus on their talents, which will now be rewarded through the championship. Finally, he highlighted the presence of the Nigeria Police as a crucial measure of security, ensuring that the tournament is hosted in a safe and secure environment for teams, fans, and the general public.
The press conference drew representatives from various football associations, including the Jigawa FA, Coaches Association, Referee Association, and local football council. Media outlets such as Freedom Radio, Jigawa State Broadcasting, New World Radio, and Skylink Online TV were also present.
The event also witnessed a barrage of questions from attendees indicative of the keen interest shown by all who were in attendance about the Championship. The event was wrapped up with Mr. Dayo Abiola speaking to members of the press, expressing his sincere gratitude to all attendees, representatives of the different agencies, including Albarka Hospital, and the sponsors, especially the CEO of Hasinah Restaurant and Confectionery, Mr. Hashim F. Hassan, who made the hosting of event possible in his prestigious hall. He made a passionate call for all hands to be on deck, especially from the private sector, as the Gadawur Championship is intended to be hosted yearly, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of private sector led grassroots football empowerment initiative. To know more about the Gadawur Championship visit: https://dayoabiola.com/ballup/gadawurchampionship/
The event’s success was made possible by the dedication of Ameterimam Shamaki, Emmanuel Odewale, Elizabeth Hassan, and Christiana Sunday. Tee Fotoz captured the memorable moments, while Samuel Enoh Enonche ensured comprehensive video documentation. The Gadawur Championship 2025 is set to brand grassroots football in Dutse as well as enact a revolution for players who play on the street of Dutse, thereby creating a lasting legacy for the community and its youths
