IHS BACKS SPIRES 5-ASIDE TOURNAMENT AHEAD OF LAGOS CHAMPIONSHIP

Telecommunications infrastructure company IHS has entered into a partnership with the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament ahead of the 2026 Lagos State Championship scheduled for October.

The partnership was unveiled in Lagos on Wednesday in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission, with the commission’s Director-General, Lekan Fatodu, and other officials present at the event.

Speaking on the collaboration, Spires Media’s Public Relations Manager, Victor Ottah, said the partnership would take the street football initiative beyond the pitch by introducing programmes aimed at engaging participants and communities.

Ottah noted that IHS, which manages more than 16,000 mobile phone towers and sites across Nigeria, would contribute innovations to the project as part of the partnership.

He described the collaboration as an opportunity to expand the reach and impact of the 5-Aside tournament, particularly through initiatives that connect football with community engagement.

Fatodu commended IHS for supporting the tournament, saying the Lagos State Sports Commission had closely monitored the Spires 5-Aside project over the past three years.

He described the competition as one of the most professionally organised 5-Aside tournaments in Nigeria and across the West African sub-region, while assuring the organisers and their partners of the commission’s support.

The Director-General also promised that the Lagos State Sports Commission would provide an enabling environment for the successful hosting of the 2026 championship.

Spires Media Chief Executive Officer and tournament initiator, Bankole Allibay, expressed appreciation to IHS for coming on board, noting that the tournament had achieved significant progress despite being organised independently during its first three years.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would help the tournament reach a higher level and create more opportunities for participants.

The next phase of the IHS-Spires 5-Aside partnership is expected to be unveiled in collaboration with the Lagos State Football Association on September 1.

The third season of the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament is scheduled to begin on October 24, with 16 teams drawn from the five divisions in Lagos expected to compete for the championship.

The partnership is expected to strengthen the tournament’s development and provide a broader platform for grassroots footballers in Lagos to showcase their talents.