Passion, Devotion and Loyalty: Investigating the Role of the Football Experience in Enhancing Local Security Ownership Among Residence of Ado-ekiti, Ekiti-state
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examined the role of football experiences in fostering local security ownership among residents of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, through a quantitative, descriptive approach. Data were collected from 240 respondents across 12 purposively chosen football viewing centers in diverse urban and peri-urban wards, reflecting the city's socio-economic diversity. Findings reveal that football viewing centers serve as vital communal spaces that foster trust, social cohesion, and collective identity, contributing positively to perceptions of community safety. The study demonstrated that 75% of respondents acknowledged football's influence on promoting positive behavior, while 66.67% viewed these centres as beneficial for improving local security. Additionally, 79.17% agreed that football fosters unity, showing its potential to strengthen communal bonds. Despite these positive perceptions, direct engagement in formal security initiatives remains low, with only 20.83% reporting active participation. This gap between perception and action reveals the need for strategies to leverage football’s social capital into structured security frameworks. By situating these findings within the broader discourse on community-driven safety measures, this research shows football’s dual role as a recreational activity and a catalyst for local development.
Institution: Afe Babalola University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215401554