SANWO-OLU: EKO 2026 WILL HELP DISCOVER AND DEVELOP NIGERIA’S NEXT SPORTS STARS

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, will provide an important platform for discovering and developing young sporting talents across Nigeria. He said the competition would help identify promising athletes early and create opportunities for them to progress towards elite-level sports.

The Games are scheduled to take place in Lagos from October 1 to 15, with between 14,000 and 15,000 athletes expected to participate. Sanwo-Olu described the event as a major opportunity to strengthen grassroots sports development and encourage young Nigerians to pursue sporting careers.

The governor said Lagos accepted the hosting rights after the National Sports Commission selected the state for the maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games. He explained that the initiative would go beyond competition by creating a system for nurturing young athletes and reducing the loss of promising talents who may otherwise seek opportunities outside the country.

Sanwo-Olu made the remarks while inspecting rehabilitation work at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, one of the major venues for the Games. He said several sports facilities across Lagos had undergone upgrades, while work was ongoing on the stadium's football pitch, athletics track, swimming pool, indoor sports hall and other facilities.

The governor expressed confidence that the venues would be ready before the Games begin. He said the event would help establish a stronger grassroots sports structure capable of producing athletes for Nigeria's national teams and future international competitions, while also demonstrating Lagos State's commitment to developing the country's next generation of sporting stars.