Lagos Ready To Host Historic National Intermediate Games, Says Fatodu

The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, has reaffirmed the state’s readiness to host a successful maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games, describing the competition as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s sports development structure.

Fatodu made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during the inaugural meeting of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the 1st National Intermediate Games, where the committee members gathered to deliberate on plans for the groundbreaking event.

According to him, the newly introduced competition will serve as a vital bridge between the National Youth Games and elite-level competitions such as the National Sports Festival, thereby addressing a long-standing developmental gap in Nigerian sports.

He praised the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, who also chairs the MOC, for championing the initiative alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko.

Fatodu said the introduction of the Intermediate Games demonstrates a deliberate effort to create sustainable opportunities for young athletes discovered through grassroots competitions. “The direction we are taking is very important because essentially we are creating a pathway to greatness, a pathway to empowerment and greater opportunities for our young people,” he said.

He noted that many talented athletes often struggle to transition from the National Youth Games to senior-level competitions because there is no structured intermediate platform. According to him, the new competition is designed to ensure continuity in athlete development and prevent promising talents from fading away prematurely.

Fatodu added that Lagos State was proud to host the inaugural edition of the Games, stressing that the event would provide a platform to showcase Nigeria’s enormous sporting talents to the world. “We want to use this opportunity to show the world that Nigeria is truly blessed with talents across many sports,” he stated.

He further explained that the competition would not only expose athletes to higher levels of competition but also educate them about broader opportunities in the sports industry beyond active participation.

According to him, sports now offer careers across several value chains, including sports management, media, marketing, administration, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Fatodu assured stakeholders, athletes, and members of the media that Lagos was fully prepared to stage a memorable competition that would meet international standards. “We are very prepared and very ready to welcome Nigerians and indeed the world to Lagos for this historic event,” he added.

The Lagos sports boss also called on the media to play a key role in promoting the Games and projecting positive narratives about Nigerian sports globally.

The National Intermediate Games are expected to feature athletes transitioning from youth-level competitions into more advanced stages of their sporting careers, with organisers optimistic that the initiative will strengthen Nigeria’s athlete development pipeline.