By Desire Onuzurike
The second edition of Baller-Thon, an annual summer sporting event designed to bring people together through sports, entertainment and social activities, was held on August 28th 2026 at Beehive, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. The event began at 12pm and ended by 8pm providing an avenue for people with youthful energy to participate in a football tournament, compete, socialise and enjoy a day filled with entertainment, music and a DJ Performance.
Baller-Thon was created as a yearly summer event focused on providing people with youthful energy and sports enthusiasts with an opportunity to participate in different sporting activities, whether competitively or simply for the love of the sport. The first edition of the event was held on August 30th 2025 at Bright Sun College Ikeja and featured a football tournament with a cash prize of ₦200,000. Participating teams were required to pay a registration fee to take part in the tournament.
For the 2026 edition, the organisers initially planned a N300,000 cash prize, with each participating team expected to pay a N50,000 registration fee. However, the football tournament received sponsorship from Megasun Properties Limited, which stepped in to cover the footballing aspect of the event and consequently made participation free for the teams. Following the sponsorship, football teams were not required to pay a registration fee. However the cash prize for the tournament was reduced from N300,000 to N150,000
The football tournament was eventually won by Champions FC, which emerged as winners of the 2026 edition.
Beyond the sporting activities, Baller-Thon 2026 also featured vendors, Brand Pop-Up stands, music and other forms of entertainment, creating an atmosphere that combined sports with leisure and social interaction. Tickets were made available online through Popout Tickets, while attendees could also purchase tickets at the gate. Both regular and VIP tickets were available, with VIP guests receiving complimentary barbecue as part of the event’s offerings.
The event was hosted by five individuals: Desire Onuzurike, King Guobadia, Tyson Guobadia, Abayomi Praise Otubela and Drey
The organisers also expressed their appreciation to Imole Athletics for supporting Baller-Thon 2026 and contributing to the success of the event. They also thanked Mega Sun Properties Limited for its valuable sponsorship and support, particularly in making the football tournament more accessible to participating teams. However, Baller-Thon is about bringing people together.
The organisers hope to expand the event in the future by introducing more sporting activities, including Basketball, Volleyball and so many more while future editions may take the event in different directions, the ambition remains to create an even bigger and better experience for participants, families and sports lovers.
With its combination of sports, entertainment and youthful energy, Baller-Thon continues to provide a platform for people to connect and enjoy sporting activities in a relaxed and engaging environment. Following the success of its second edition, Hopefully the annual event is expected to return for another edition next summer
As Baller-Thon looks towards its next chapter, its message remains simple: Believe, Achieve and Thrive.
- Onuzurike, a student of Mass Communication at Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, is an intern with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Lagos.
