LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State government has expressed its readiness to host the maiden National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026, with organisers staying that the event would promote youth development, national unity and grassroots sports.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Sam Egube, stated this during a media briefing on the maiden National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026, held at the Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, on the preparations for the games.
Egube noted that the National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026, scheduled to hold from October 1 to 15, would bring about 15,000 young athletes aged between 15 and 18 to Lagos, with more than 50,000 athletes, young people and other participants expected to interact with the state during the event.
He said that the games go beyond competition for medals, as they are designed to promote national unity, inclusion and the discovery of young talents capable of representing Nigeria at national, continental and international levels.
The LOC chairman described Lagos as Nigeria’s economic powerhouse and a gateway to the world, adding that youth development remains central to the state’s development agenda.
Egube said: “Without developing the youth, without amplifying the youth, we will not have a great Lagos.”
While urging the media to use the games to project Nigeria’s successes, talents and potential, he noted that 28 sporting disciplines will be contested across several venues, including the Teslim Balogun Stadium, National Stadium, Yaba College of Technology, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and other sporting facilities across the state.
According to Egube, the event would also create opportunities for small businesses, hospitality, transportation and other sectors of the Lagos economy, while exposing young participants to the possibilities available in the state.
He added that Lagos’ experience in hosting major international events, including the E1 Grand Prix, had demonstrated the state’s capacity to successfully stage high-profile competitions.
Also at the event, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said that the media is an indispensable partner in the success of the games, urging journalists to help project Lagos as a safe, culturally rich and welcoming destination for visitors.
Ogunlende said the state government would continue to work tirelessly to deliver a successful competition, particularly given the large number of young people expected in Lagos.
Also, Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission and member of the LOC, said Eko 2026 represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s sports development, describing it as the first National Intermediate Games of its kind.
According to Fatodu, the competition was conceived to bridge the gap between youth games and the National Sports Festival, creating a structured pathway for young athletes to progress into elite sports.
He said Lagos was expanding the number of facilities being used for the competition to cover the 28 disciplines, while transportation, accommodation and other logistics had been carefully planned.
While emphasizing the importance of age verification, Fatodu noted that adequate measures had been put in place to prevent age cheating and ensure that only athletes who meet the prescribed age category participate.
The LOC disclosed that UNILAG would provide accommodation for thousands of participating athletes, with the institution adjusting its academic calendar to accommodate the games.
Organisers said the condition of the halls of residence was being regularly assessed, while dedicated sub-committees would oversee feeding, catering, accommodation and quality assurance.
They noted that beyond the sporting contest, the Eko 2026 would provide a platform for young Nigerians from different states, ethnic groups and backgrounds to interact, celebrate their diversities and build stronger bonds of national unity.
The LOC appealed to the media and other partners to sustain support for the games, describing the competition as an opportunity to discover the next generation of Nigerian sporting champions and strengthen the country’s sporting ecosystem.
