The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, believes Lagos State is ready to host the first National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026. He sees this event as a chance to show Nigeria’s sporting talent.
While speaking at a technical meeting for the Games, Mr Olopade praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for their dedication to sports and youth development.
“When you look at the build-up to the first National Intermediate Games, you cannot but marvel at the leadership that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given to sports in this country,” Mr Olopade said.
He mentioned the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon as a sign of the governor’s support for sports events. He noted that the marathon has been maintained and improved under Sanwo-Olu’s leadership.
Mr Olopade also stressed the need to discover young talents through programs aimed at secondary school athletes. He recalled watching exciting performances at competitions in Asaba and Abeokuta.
He pointed out that Lagos has shown it can provide the necessary systems and facilities to host the Games well. “You have not only started putting in place systems and facilities, but you have also brought out the best of your leadership to drive these Games,” he said.
The NSC boss added that what is being set up should help the Intermediate Games become a national sports event beyond this first edition. He urged the technical committee to pay close attention to the event and promote it as one of Nigeria’s major sports competitions.
Mr Olopade also encouraged stakeholders to focus their efforts on the Intermediate Games while working on the issues facing Nigerian football.
EKO 2026 is scheduled for 1, 15 October and is expected to gather over 14,000 young athletes from all over Nigeria. This will provide a platform for spotting and developing talent.
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