The Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to host the maiden National Inter-Mediate Games, with between ten thousand and fifteen thousand young athletes expected from across the country.
This was made known at a media conference organised by the Lagos State Government to formally engage editors and media partners ahead of the historic sporting event scheduled for October first to fifteenth 2026
The Media Briefing brought together key officials involved in the organisation of the Games, including the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Sam Egube; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu.
Speaking at the Media Conference held in Alausa, Ikeja, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Sam Egube, describes the games
which would feature athletes aged between fifteen and eighteen competing in twenty-eight sporting disciplines at various venues across the state, as a platform for youth development, national unity and grassroots sports.
Egube, who is the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the competition would provide a pathway for discovering and nurturing young talents for the National Sports Festival, continental competitions and the global sporting stage.
Also, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, called for the support and partnership of media practitioners as preparations intensify for the inaugural National Intermediate Games, scheduled to hold in Lagos.
He expressed appreciation to members of the media for their presence and support, describing them as critical partners in the successful delivery of the Games.
Omotoso said the National Intermediate Games represented a major milestone in Nigeria’s sporting development, particularly because it would provide a structured bridge between grassroots and professional sports.
According to him, the initiative is designed to identify, nurture and expose young sporting talents who could eventually represent Nigeria at national, continental and international competitions.
He said Lagos State was determined to host the Games to the highest standard, noting that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had demonstrated a strong commitment to sports development and excellence.
“Lagos is committed to delivering an excellent National Intermediate Games. We are putting everything in place to ensure that the competition becomes a remarkable event,” he said.
The Commissioner noted that several subcommittees had been established to oversee critical areas including security, transportation, athletes’ welfare and other logistical requirements.
He further urged journalists and media organisations to provide accurate and constructive coverage of the Games, stressing that the media would play a central role in showcasing the talents and achievements that would emerge from the competition.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission and member of the Local Organising Committee, Lekan Fatodu, described the media parley as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between the organisers and the Fourth Estate.
Fatodu said the Games would feature athletes from across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, providing an opportunity to discover the next generation of Nigerian sporting champions.
He said the competition would feature 31 events across 28 sporting disciplines, with facilities across Lagos being utilised for the Games.
According to him, the organisers had also expanded their facility network to include the University of Lagos, where the Jelili Motola Sports Centre would be used for combat sports.
Fatodu explained that the Games were conceived to create a proper developmental pathway between youth competitions and elite sporting events, while promoting age-appropriate participation and discouraging age cheating in Nigerian sports.
He said Lagos State had consistently advocated for proper age categorisation in youth sports and was determined to establish a system that would enable young athletes to progress through the sporting ecosystem based on their actual ages.
The Director-General said the Games were 37 days away at the time of the media parley, stating that preparations were already at an advanced stage.
He said Lagos was ready to welcome athletes and officials from across Nigeria and use the event to promote excellence, unity, diplomacy and youth empowerment.
Members of the Local Organising Committee appealed to media organisations to amplify the stories of the young athletes participating in the Games and showcase Lagos as a leading sports destination in Africa.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to delivering a world-class competition in line with the vision of the Lagos State Government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
