Nathaniel Idowu Summer Camp wraps up successfully

The 2026 Nathaniel Idowu Summer Camp wrapped up on a high note at the New Maracana Sports Complex in Tolu, Lagos, over the weekend. More than 500 children and 200 parents came out for the closing ceremony.

This four-week camp was put together by Peakline Sports World Ltd. The Nathaniel Idowu Foundation also supported it. The camp focused on grassroots sports development, mentorship, and building character in children.

Twenty certified coaches and seven extra staff looked after the participants during the programme. The children received meals, medical support, and transport allowances throughout the camp.

Yemi Idowu, the founder of the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation, shared that the camp was created to help children in Ajegunle grow through sports. He said, "When we started this, we wanted to give children in Ajegunle hope through sport."

"Seeing 500 kids here today, and parents supporting them, tells me we are on the right track. This is not a one-off. We are resolved to continue building talents from the ground up," Idowu added.

The closing ceremony also had fun activities for basketball players. Idowu promised to build a new basketball court at the Maracana Sports Complex. This will give the children a permanent training spot.

"We saw the passion in our basketball kids. They deserve a court of their own right here. The Foundation will make it happen so that training does not stop after camp," he said.

The Foundation is also dedicated to increasing girls' involvement in football through its Let Her Play project. During the closing ceremony, 32 new female players joined the programme.

These new players will join 30 other girls already training as part of the Foundation's long-term talent development plans. The organisers want to keep supporting these young athletes even after the camp ends.

Three hundred standout performers were chosen to continue with weekend training sessions. This way, their development can continue beyond the camp.

US-based Gear 'em Up, run by Khadija and Marvelous, supported the programme by providing kits for the participants.

Parents at the closing ceremony praised the organisers for offering free registration, coaching, meals, medical support, and transport throughout the camp. The organisers stated that they will keep focusing on discovering and nurturing young talents while using sports to promote discipline, education, and inclusion among children in Lagos.