The National Sports Commission (NSC) said Lagos State was chosen to host the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, because of its established grassroots sports development structure, sporting infrastructure and proven capacity to organise major sporting events.
The Games are designed to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite sports by creating a structured pathway for athletes aged 15 to 18.
The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, who spoke at the unveiling of the Games’ logo and mascot recently, said Lagos had consistently demonstrated the capacity to bridge the gap between grassroots sports and the top echelon of Nigerian sports.
“Lagos will always put everything out to ensure things are done properly as we are about to kick-start what will be the best sports fiesta we will ever see in this country,” Olopade said.
“Deliberately, Malam Shehu Dikko and I knew that the only state that could bail us out and bridge that gap that has been so obvious in our sports is Lagos.
“Not just in organising, but proactively, Lagos has created a system that brings school children to the top echelon of our sports, and it is only fitting that we bring the next level of growth in sports to Lagos to host and showcase that we can do things better than people observe.”
The NSC said Lagos’ selection was also influenced by its concentration of sporting facilities capable of supporting a multi-sport national event.
The Teslim Balogun Stadium will serve as the main arena, while other venues include the National Stadium, Surulere; Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba; Agege Township Stadium; Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan; and the Elegbata Sports Complex.
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