Lagos to Host Maiden National Intermediate Games as Sanwo-Olu inaugurates Organising Committee
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Wednesday inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games (NIG), tagged 'Lagos 2026'.
Governor Sanwo-Olu charged the LOC
members to approach the assignment with dedication, professionalism and a clear
sense of purpose.
Speaking during the inauguration
ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Marina, Governor Sanwo-Olu
described the Local Organising Committee's responsibility as a significant step
towards advancing sports development in Nigeria.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the
National Intermediate Games will provide a platform for young athletes across
the country to discover and showcase their talents while creating opportunities
for growth and excellence in sports.
He said Lagos State's decision to
host the competition in October 2026 reflects its commitment to youth
empowerment and sports development, noting that the event would also foster
social inclusion, national integration and cultural exchange among participants
from different parts of the country.
"The games represent more than
a sporting event. They are an investment into the future of our young people
and an avenue to strengthen unity and create opportunities through sports,"
he said.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by
members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), led by the Director-General of
the National Sports Commission, Mr. Bukola Olopade, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his
administration holds sporting activities in high esteem and will continue to
put sports in a position it belongs.
Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the
reforms spearheaded by both the Director-General and the Chairman of the
National Sports Commission for putting sports and sporting activities on an impressive
trajectory.
“Sporting activities are not magic;
they are a deliberate, intentional investment that you must build up on. You
must create, follow up and follow through to get to the desire you want,"
he said.
The Director-General of the National
Sports Commission, Mr. Bukola Olopade, commended the Lagos State Government for
its sustained investment in sports infrastructure and youth development.
Olopade noted that Lagos had
consistently demonstrated leadership in hosting major sporting events and
expressed confidence in Lagos State's capacity to successfully host the maiden
National Intermediate Games.
He said, "The 8.8 trillion
dollar economy of sports that is going to happen in the next 20 years has Lagos
with a footprint in it already. It is not a difficult decision for us to choose
Lagos as the host state for the maiden National Intermediate Games. Lagos has
been a pillar of support for us in the National Sports Commission in every
aspect of sporting activities."
Speaking during the inauguration on
behalf of the Local Organising Committee, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth
and Social Development and Co-Chairman of the LOC, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende,
appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for the confidence reposed in the committee.
He assured that Local Organising
Committee members would work tirelessly to deliver a successful tournament that
would positively impact millions of Nigerian youths and position them for
greater opportunities on the global stage.
The Director-General of the Lagos
State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, also expressed the readiness of Lagos to
host the maiden National Intermediate Games.
The National Intermediate Games is
expected to bring together young athletes from across the country, providing a
pathway for talent identification, development and national sports growth.
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