Why Lagos Got Nod To Host Maiden National Intermediate Games – NSC

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has explained that Lagos State was chosen to host the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, because of its strong grassroots sports development system, sporting infrastructure and proven capacity to stage major competitions.

The Games, organised under the Commission’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), are designed to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite sports by creating a structured development pathway for athletes aged between 15 and 18.

According to the NSC, the age group represents a crucial stage in athlete development, requiring regular competition, monitoring and targeted support to help promising talents progress to the elite level.

The Games will also provide opportunities for talent identification, performance assessment and the integration of emerging athletes into Nigeria’s high-performance sports system.

NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, said Lagos was the natural choice for the maiden edition because of its ability to develop athletes from school and grassroots competitions into elite performers.

Speaking at the recent unveiling of the Games’ logo and mascot, Olopade said Lagos had consistently demonstrated its capacity to bridge the gap between grassroots sports and the highest level of competition in Nigeria.

“Deliberately, Malam Shehu Dikko and I knew that the only state that could bail us out and bridge that gap that has been so obvious in our sports is Lagos,” Olopade said.

“Not just in organising, but proactively, Lagos has created a system that brings schoolchildren to the top echelon of our sports, and it is only fitting that we bring the next level of growth in sports to Lagos to host and showcase that we can do things better.”

He added: “Lagos has consistently shown that it can lead from the front and bridge the gap that exists in our sports.”

The Games will also carry a distinct Lagos identity, with the official logo incorporating cultural and sporting symbols associated with the state.

The design features the Eyo cap, Opambata, the ‘Eko’ inscription, colourful swirls and three ascending stars, while the official mascot, named Lasgidi, further reflects the cultural character of the host city.

Lagos’ concentration of sporting facilities was another major factor in its selection.

Teslim Balogun Stadium will serve as the main arena, while other venues include the National Stadium, Surulere; Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba; Agege Township Stadium; Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan; and the Elegbata Sports Complex.

The state has also secured access to institutional facilities, including Lagos Tennis Club, Onikan, TBS Cricket Oval, Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos.

The distribution of venues across the state is expected to support multiple sporting disciplines and provide the operational capacity required for a national multi-sport event.

Lagos’ experience in organising major competitions also influenced the decision. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu earlier this year constituted a Local Organising Committee to oversee the delivery of EKO 2026.

The committee is chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sam Egube, while the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, and Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, serve as co-chairmen.

Several sub-committees have also been established to coordinate various aspects of the Games.

The Local Organising Committee has described EKO 2026 as a structured talent-transition platform designed to connect grassroots potential with podium-ready performance.

For the NSC, the maiden National Intermediate Games represent more than a multi-sport competition. The Commission sees the event as a new tier in Nigeria’s sports development architecture, with Lagos providing the platform to identify, monitor and nurture the next generation of Nigerian sporting champions.