Lagos State Boosts Local Sports with New Equipment

LSSTF officials during the equipment donation. Photo: LSSTF

The Lagos State Sports Trust Fund is pushing its grassroots sports program forward. They recently gave out sporting equipment to all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos.

On Tuesday, the equipment was handed out at BOS Hall, Lagos Television Broadcasting Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja. The items included gear for table tennis, basketball, football, volleyball, athletics, and more. Each LG and LCDA received a complete set of equipment.

Enitan Oshodi, the Chairman of the LSSTF, said this initiative aims to bring back grassroots competitions. It also seeks to create chances for young talents to grow in Lagos.

"We are not merely handing out table tennis boards, basketball stands and hoops, balls, nets, Scrabble and dictionary sets, chess and ludo boards, fully kitted first-aid boxes and other sports equipment; we are planting the seeds of future Olympians, Paralympians and world champions in every ward, every street and every community in Lagos State," Oshodi said.

The Executive Secretary of the LSSTF thanked the Lagos State Government and its partners for keeping the initiative alive and for supporting grassroots sports.

Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event. He urged the LGs and LCDAs to use the equipment to spark healthy competition and find the next sporting stars.

"Lagos is blessed. The next Victor Osimhen, the next Tobi Amusan, the next Anthony Joshua will not be discovered in Europe; he will be discovered in our LGs/LCDAs, in Badagry, in Epe, in Ikorodu, in Agege. We are going to catch them young from the grassroots," Ogunlende said.

He praised the LSSTF for this effort and noted that the state government will keep backing its grassroots programs.

"That is why my government will continue to support the LSSTF. I have been reliably informed that this is the second phase of your grassroots intervention this year, after the distribution of sports equipment to 1,020 public primary schools across the state and the total rehabilitation of Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba. That is commendable," he added.

This recent move is part of the state’s larger plans to improve grassroots sports and give young athletes the equipment and organized competitions they need, following the support given to over 1,000 schools in Lagos.