As the National Intermediate Games, known as Eko 2026, gets closer, the Local Organising Committee and the Main Organising Committee are working together to stop age cheating among athletes. They plan to use the national identity number system to help with this.
The games will take place in Lagos from October 1 to 15. About 15,000 young athletes aged 15 to 18 years will compete in different sports.
To keep the competition fair, LOC Co-chair Lekan Fatodu said technology will play a big part in making sure only eligible athletes can take part.
"As we are aware, the games are meant to bridge the gap between the Youth Games and the National Sports Festival. Hosting this tournament gives us the opportunity to set a new standard in checking age cheating," Fatodu said.
He added, "We want to ensure that only athletes within the right age bracket compete. In the past, over-aged athletes have competed against under-aged athletes, denying genuine talents the chance to shine. This time around, we want to set the standard with the use of NIMS."
The National Identity Management Commission will help verify athletes' details against national records. Fatodu pointed out that this step is meant to stop age falsification, which has been a problem in youth sports, and ensure fairness in all competitions.
The LOC noted that using NIMSC shows Lagos’ commitment to honesty and credibility in sports management. By using the national identity system, the Games want to find real talents and also set a new standard for youth competitions in Nigeria.
With this plan, Eko 2026 is set to lead in mixing sports development with digital governance. The first edition of the National Intermediate Games will be remembered for both its sports excellence and its commitment to fairness.
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