EKO 2026 Games to Harness, Retain Nigeria’s Young Talents, Says Governor Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared that the upcoming National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, will serve as a crucial platform for discovering, nurturing, and retaining Nigeria's young athletes before they reach elite levels. The event is slated to take place from October 1 to 15 and anticipates the participation of 14,000 to 15,000 athletes.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted the games as a significant opportunity to bolster grassroots sports development and create avenues for emerging athletes to fulfill their potential. Lagos accepted the hosting rights after the National Sports Commission designated the state for the inaugural National Intermediate Games. "We want to hold grassroots sports. We want to encourage young people before they begin to leave. We want to nurture and develop all our children," the governor stated.

During an inspection of rehabilitation work at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, one of the primary venues, Sanwo-Olu detailed the event's dual purpose: discovering talent and establishing a system to keep promising athletes within Nigeria. He noted that Lagos's investments in sporting infrastructure are part of a broader strategy to enhance sports development statewide. Over the last three years, his administration has upgraded facilities across several areas, including Surulere, Ifako, Bariga, Ikorodu, Epe, Agege, and Badagry.

The governor examined various facilities at Teslim Balogun Stadium, including the football and athletics arenas, indoor sports hall, volleyball court, and swimming pool. He confirmed that the main bowl is undergoing major reconstruction, with the football pitch now meeting FIFA standards and natural grass installed. The tartan track is expected to be finished in four to six weeks, and other facilities will be ready before the Games commence in October. Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence that the venues would meet the required standards, with the National Intermediate Games providing added impetus to the state's ongoing rehabilitation efforts.

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We are going to be the first state and the first host of this sports festival that will help us achieve what we have all been talking about. We want to hold grassroots sports. We want to encourage young people before they begin to leave. We want to nurture and develop all our children.