EKO 2026: Sanwo-Olu Targets Talent Discovery, Retention

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, will provide a major platform to identify, nurture and retain Nigeria’s emerging sporting talents before they progress to the elite level.

The Games, scheduled to hold in Lagos from October 1 to 15, are expected to attract between 14,000 and 15,000 young athletes, marking a significant step in the country’s grassroots sports development programme.

Sanwo-Olu described the maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games as a landmark opportunity to create a structured pathway for young athletes to develop their abilities and ultimately represent Nigeria at national and international competitions.

Lagos secured the hosting rights after the National Sports Commission (NSC) selected the state as the venue for the inaugural Games.

Speaking during an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation works at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, one of the major venues for EKO 2026, Sanwo-Olu said the competition would address one of the major challenges facing Nigerian sports — the loss of promising young talents before they reach the elite level.

“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,” the governor said.

He stressed that the objective was not merely to stage another sporting competition, but to establish a sustainable system for discovering, developing and retaining athletes within the country.

According to him, the Games would provide young athletes with the exposure and competitive experience required to progress through the various stages of their sporting careers.

Sanwo-Olu also linked Lagos’ preparations for EKO 2026 to the state government’s broader investment in sports infrastructure and grassroots development.

He said his administration had, over the past three years, embarked on extensive rehabilitation and upgrading of sporting facilities across the state, including venues in Surulere, Ifako, Bariga, Ikorodu, Epe, Agege and Badagry.

During the inspection, the governor assessed the football and athletics arenas, indoor sports hall, volleyball court and swimming pool at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

He disclosed that the stadium’s main bowl was undergoing comprehensive reconstruction, while the football pitch had been upgraded to FIFA standards, with natural grass already installed.

The tartan athletics track, he added, was expected to be completed within four to six weeks, while work on the swimming pool and other facilities would also be concluded before the Games.

Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence that Teslim Balogun Stadium and other designated venues would be ready to host the Games in October, noting that the decision to stage EKO 2026 had accelerated the rehabilitation of several sporting facilities across Lagos.

He reiterated that the state’s investment in sports was aimed at creating an environment where young athletes could discover their potential, receive proper development and build careers without having to seek opportunities outside Nigeria.

With thousands of athletes expected to participate, EKO 2026 is set to become a major talent-identification platform, while also showcasing Lagos’ renewed commitment to grassroots sports and laying the foundation for the emergence of Nigeria’s next generation of national and international sporting stars.