Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Alhaja Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has been officially inaugurated as the maiden Matron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

The investiture took place during SWAN’s 2026 National Triennial Delegates Congress in Kaduna, where association leadership laid out a multi-year roadmap focused on professionalism, digital integration, and member welfare.

SWAN National President Isaiah K. Benjamin welcomed delegates from all 36 states and the FCT, framing the gathering as a vital opportunity to strengthen institutional governance.

‘This Triennial Delegates Congress is more than a statutory gathering,’ Benjamin stated. ‘It is an opportunity for us to take stock of where we are coming from, examine where we are today, and chart a clear and progressive course for where we want SWAN to be in the years ahead.’

Benjamin emphasized that the future of Nigerian sports journalism must rely on fact-based reporting, technology integration, continuous capacity building, and improved working conditions. He called on governments, corporate bodies, and sports federations to view SWAN not just as a press body, but as a strategic partner in sports development.

‘Let us build bridges rather than walls,’ Benjamin urged. ‘History will judge us not by the positions we occupied, but by the institutions we strengthened and the legacy we left behind.’

Accepting the role of SWAN Matron, Omidiran pledged active institutional support, citing her nearly 30-year relationship with the Nigerian sports media community dating back to her founding of the women’s football club Omidiran Babes.

‘I accepted immediately,’ Omidiran said of the nomination. ‘I will serve the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria to the best of my capability and do everything within my capacity to support the association and contribute to the growth and development of sports journalism in Nigeria.’

The Adegoroye Ruling House of Ise Kingdom in Lekki Local Council Development Area, Lagos State has protested the installation of Mr. Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the Onise of Ise, alleging that the exercise violated an order of the state High Court.

The family, who protested at the House of Assembly, submitted a copy of the court order to the authorities, seeking government’s intervention in the dispute.

The protesters claimed that Saliu was installed last Friday, despite the order restraining the state government.

They said the case was instituted by Prince Wasiu Gbadebo Adenupebi Adegoroye and Adegoroye Ruling House following the death of Oba Ganiyu Adegbesan over who succeeds the monarch.

Adegoroye said the family rejected Saliu’s emergence, alleging that he did not undergo the traditional selection.

‘We don’t want him as our Oba because he didn’t pass through the normal protocol before installation as the chosen one. We appeal to the Lagos State Government to do the needful and install the rightful king,’ he said.

Another member of the family, Prince Adefowope Adenupebi Adegoroye, alleged that Saliu had been installed as a monarch of Imedu kingdom and had celebrated his first anniversary, wondering why he came to Ise rule over them.

Also, Mr. Adeoye Oyekanmi Agbomeji of the Okunoye family alleged that Saliu was not a member of their ruling family in Ise Kingdom, claiming that he was born in Imedu Kingdom and had a palace there.

The protesters appealed to the state government to respect the court order and ensure that the rightful candidate is selected and installed in tandem with the law and tradition.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated a technical committee to boost fish production in Nigeria.

Oyetola, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja yesterday, said the initiative was aimed at moving beyond policy recommendations to planned action capable of delivering measurable improvements in the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

He explained that fish remained a critical source of animal protein for millions of Nigerians, while the fisheries and aquaculture value chain provided livelihoods through production, processing, marketing, transportation and other related services.

The Minister, in a statement by his Media Aide, Bolaji Akinola, said: ‘Fish is an important source of animal protein for millions of Nigerians. The fisheries and aquaculture sector sustains livelihoods across production, processing, marketing, transportation and related services. However, domestic production remains substantially below national demand, with consequences for food security, household incomes and foreign-exchange resources’.

Oyetola identified high production costs, particularly the cost of feed, inadequate access to quality fish seed and broodstock, weak fish-health and biosecurity systems, post-harvest losses and insufficient cold-chain and storage infrastructure among the challenges confronting the sector.

He also cited limited access to affordable finance, gaps in research and innovation, weak data systems, inadequate standards, traceability and market development as constraints that must be urgently addressed.

He stated: ‘The transfer of fisheries and aquaculture functions to the ministry has provided a stronger institutional platform for addressing these challenges as part of Nigeria’s broader blue-economy development.’

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to increasing sustainable domestic fish production, strengthening the fisheries value chain and progressively reducing Nigeria’s dependence on fish imports.

The Minister recalled that the ministry, in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), convened a strategic roundtable on October 29, 2025, on accelerating fish production in Nigeria, which produced recommendations aimed at addressing production and value-chain constraints.

He said the newly inaugurated committee was constituted to assess those recommendations and turn validated proposals into a practical, prioritised implementation roadmap.

‘Your assignment is not to develop another policy or establish a parallel programme,’ Oyetola told members of the committee, stressing that the report of the roundtable must be assessed against the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, relevant laws, existing government programmes and the statutory mandates of relevant institutions.

He charged the committee to scrutinise every recommendation and determine whether it should be adopted, refined, integrated into existing frameworks, subjected to further study or set aside as unviable.

The committee is also expected to map existing initiatives across the public, private and development sectors to strengthen proven strategies and prevent duplication in the deployment of scarce resources.

‘Your final output should include a clear implementation roadmap and matrix setting out the priority interventions, responsible institutions, timelines, indicative costs, funding options, performance indicators and required approvals. It should also identify credible opportunities for private-sector investment, public-private partnerships, development finance and other sustainable funding arrangements,’ he said.

The minister urged members of the technical committee to approach the assignment with urgency, objectivity and a strong focus on results.

He said their recommendations must be realistic, evidence-based and financially responsible, while delivering tangible gains in fish production, job creation and food security.

Oyetola assured the committee of the ministry’s institutional support and expressed confidence that its work would provide a practical pathway for accelerating growth in Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the committee, Mrs Fatima Mahmood, assured that the committee would approach its mandate with a sense of responsibility, ensuring that the recommendations of the roundtable would be thoroughly reviewed and translated into practical interventions capable of delivering measurable results.

She said the committee would work with relevant stakeholders to identify priority actions, address existing gaps and develop a realistic implementation roadmap to accelerate sustainable fish production, strengthen the fisheries value chain and contribute to Nigeria’s food security and economic development.

Members of the committee include the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Sugra Mahmood, who serves as Chairman; Mr. Omoragbon Wellington, Director, Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Abuja; Mr. Garba Usman, Director, Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Lagos Office; Prof Ayo Omotayo, Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies; Prof Sule Abiodun, Executive Director, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research; Prof Akintola Shehu Latunji of Lagos State University; and Prof Sadiku Suleiman Omeiza of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Others are Dr. Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy; Dr. Charles Okaga, Technical Assistant to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Dr. Ebinimi Ansa, President, Fisheries Society of Nigeria; Mr. Onoja Sunday, President, Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria; Mr. Mashi Gabriel Sani, President, Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria; Mr. Remi Ahmed, President, Tilapia Development Association of Nigeria; and Dr. Charles Iyangbe, Country Representative, WorldFish Nigeria.

The committee has eight weeks to submit its report.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has sealed two illegal mining sites at Atani in Ogbaru LGA and Iyienu, Ogidi, in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

Head of Media and Tactical Operations, SC Okadigbo Edwin said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the State Federal Mines Officer, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, as part of renewed efforts to protect the country’s mineral resources amid concerns over illegal mining and unlicensed operators.

Speaking on behalf of the State Commandant, Commandant Maku Olatunde, Okadigbo Edwin said the operation followed meticulous intelligence gathering and surveillance, which revealed that the operators of the laterite/sandstone and sharp sand sites had no valid documentation authorising their mining activities.

He said, ‘The Mines and Solid Minerals Development Unit, headed by Assistant Commandant of Corps, Ochie Paul, jointly with Engr. Edet Anthony, Anambra State, the Federal Mines Officer, launched an investigation into the activities of these illegal miners and raided the sites.

‘On sighting the enforcement team, the suspected illegal miners abandoned their equipment and fled into the nearby bushes. However, officials recovered various exhibits at both locations before sealing the sites.

‘At Atani, Ogbaru LGA, the operation took place at about 13:04 hours at an illegal sharp sand site, where items recovered included one long shovel, two 25-litre gallons of gasoline, one big excavator battery, and four litres of power steering oil.

‘Thereafter, the team moved to Iyienu, Ogidi, in Idemili North LGA at about 16:45 hours, where an illegal laterite/sandstone mining site was sealed and the following exhibits were recovered: four shovels, two sledge hammers, one cutlass, three rakes, four hand hammers, two chisels, and one small sieve.’

Assuring continued operations across the State, the NSCDC spokesperson warned illegal miners that attempts to flee during security raids would not shield them from eventual arrest and prosecution.

‘The success of the operation reflects the gallantry and professionalism of our operatives. It is a clear warning that the government will no longer tolerate activities that undermine the growth and development of Nigeria’s mining sector, degrade the environment, and threaten public infrastructure,’ he added.

Okadigbo commended the joint enforcement team for their determination to protect natural resources, preserve the environment, and safeguard communities affected by mining activities.

He noted that the level of land degradation, erosion threats, and flagrant violations of environmental regulations, which pose serious risks to lives, property, and public infrastructure, necessitated the swift action.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has congratulated the citizens as the state marks its 35th anniversary of creation.

He assured them that the state had entered a new era of sustainable growth, development and prosperity.

The governor said this in a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba.

He described the anniversary as a milestone in the history of Delta State, noting the journey of the past 35 years had been defined by resilience, unity and the collective efforts of the people.

He hailed past leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, private sector players and all the citizens for their contributions to the growth and development of the state since its creation on August 27, 1991.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to translate abundant assets in the state into tangible improvements.

The governor, in a statement to mark 35th anniversary of the state’s creation, said the occasion was a celebration of unity, resilience and shared progress.

He said his administration remained committed to accelerating development through the SHINE Agenda, acknowledging contributions of past administrations, traditional institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders to the growth of the state.

Okpebholo listed achievements made by his administration to include strengthened collaboration with security agencies to tackle criminal activities, prioritising health care through the upgrading of facilities and training of health workers, particularly at primary health care centres, increased subvention to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Edo State University, Uzairue.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday declared a state of emergency on the environment, describing environmental degradation as the state’s ‘number one existential threat’.

He said more than 30 per cent of the state’s total landmass had been eroded, warning that dedicating the entire state budget to ecological remediation would still fall short of the financial requirement.

Soludo said this during a live broadcast at the Light House, Awka, to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of Anambra State.

The broadcast, held under the theme: ‘Our Environment, Our Future, A Call for Personal Responsibility’, also featured the launch of a renewed clean and green initiative.

The initiative is aimed at transforming the state into a clean, planned and sustainable habitat.

The governor said while progress had been made in addressing insecurity since his administration assumed office, the environmental crisis required urgent and collective action.

‘Although cities globally are grappling with climate change and flooding, the situation in Anambra is a severe existential crisis, with about 98 per cent of the degradation attributed to human activities.

‘Anambra is the gully erosion capital of Africa, if not the world. More than 30 per cent of our total landmass have already been eroded.

‘Even if we dedicate the entire state budget to ecological remediation, it will still not be enough to address the magnitude of the problem,’ he said.

Soludo listed Nanka, Oko, Amaokpala, Ozubulu, Ogidi, Nkpor, parts of Onitsha and Nnewi among communities experiencing severe erosion, resulting in the collapse of homes, roads and farms.

He said the state’s porous soil had contributed to the problem, but human activities had drastically accelerated the degradation over the years.

The governor said available data indicated that the crisis was a cumulative 60-year problem.

He said the problem was driven by blocked drains, unauthorised construction on waterways, uncontrolled run-off and reckless excavation of soil without environmental impact assessments.

He also identified farming on vulnerable slopes as contributing 20 per cent to the crisis, deforestation 13 per cent and indiscriminate sand mining nine per cent.

Soludo acknowledged the efforts of previous administrations in tackling the environmental challenges, saying his administration had introduced structural measures to address the situation.

For Ayegbusi Olabanji, athletics is far more than a sport-it is a lifelong pursuit that has shaped his career, tested his resolve, and provided a platform to create opportunities for the next generation. Today, Olabanji is the Founder and CEO of Dynamic Athletics Media and Sports Management Ltd, as well as the driving force behind the Dynamic Athletics Meet, one of Nigeria’s premier grassroots track and field competitions. However, his path to administrative success was far from linear.

Olabanji’s initial ambition was to compete professionally on the track. His single-minded focus on training and competition extended his four-year degree program in Philosophy at Ekiti State University to six years. When a professional running career failed to materialize, he eventually drifted away from the sport, registering his car for Bolt driving to generate steady income.

While the side hustle initially brought extra cash, it came at the cost of his true calling. As months passed, he realized that chasing daily fares was pulling him emotionally away from track and field. A moment of quiet reflection forced a pivot: asking himself what truly brought him fulfilment even without monetary reward, the answer was immediate. He parked the car, quit ride-hailing, and redirected his full focus back to athletics, proving to himself that while money is important, purpose is priceless.

To build a lasting legacy, Olabanji systematically invested in formal education across sports administration, coaching, and media. He earned a Higher Diploma in Sports Management from the National Institute for Sports, completed a Basic Certificate in Athletics Coaching, and studied Effective Writing and Communication at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. These credentials quickly translated into key industry roles, including serving as Media Officer for Team Nigeria at the 2023 CAA Region II Senior Athletics Championships in Togo and gaining membership on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Media Committee.

Beyond his administrative roles as an Admin Officer at Jintech Management Ltd, Public Media Personnel for Edatech, and assistant coach at Altivelis Athletics Club, Olabanji’s media outfit, Dynamic Athletics Hub, has delivered extensive coverage of major events like the African Games and National Championships. In 2025, he deepened his institutional ties by partnering with the national governing body to organize the joint AFN/Dynamic Athletics Meet in Lagos.

That momentum culminated in the landmark third edition of the Dynamic Athletics Meet, which drew over 700 athletes from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries to produce record-breaking performances. Addressing the broader systemic challenges within Nigerian sports, Olabanji advocates a solution-oriented approach over passive criticism, believing that everyone can contribute their quota using whatever capacity, resources, or influence they possess.

Olabanji remains quick to credit the ecosystem supporting his vision, expressing gratitude to AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa, the AFN Board, the Lagos State Sports Commission, coaches, and corporate donors. He also urges emerging athletes to maintain humility and remember the developmental coaches who sacrifice time and resources behind the scenes to lay their foundation. While his original dream of track stardom took an unexpected turn, Olabanji has ultimately carved out an even broader legacy-transitioning from the driver’s seat to building the very platforms elevating Nigerian athletics.

Lagos State Government has begun training rice millers and regulatory agencies on fortified rice production as the global fortified rice market is projected to reach $38.4 billion by 2035, amid rising demand for nutritious staple foods.

The market forecast by Future Market Insights puts the global fortified rice market at $22.5 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach $38.4 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent.

The three-day training, held in Lagos, is aimed at positioning the state’s rice industry to capture a share of the expanding market while improving the nutritional quality of rice consumed in Nigeria.

The opportunity is significant given Nigeria’s huge rice consumption. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service, Nigeria’s rice consumption is forecast at 8.6 million metric tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year, up five per cent from 8.2 million tonnes projected for the previous marketing year.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, said the country’s large rice consumption provided a significant opportunity for fortification.

‘Rice is the singular food product that best reaches everybody, from the youngest to the oldest,’ Fashola said.

He said fortification could help deliver essential micronutrients, particularly to children and young people, through a widely consumed staple.

‘Rice fortification is still in its infancy. There are only about six rice mills that have the capacity for fortification across Nigeria,’ he said.

Fashola said expanding capacity was necessary to increase access and consumer awareness, adding, ‘We need to promote it. We need to encourage its consumption and its knowledge.’

Lagos State has introduced Eko Fortified Rice alongside Eko Rice Farm Fresh and Eko Rice Classic. The fortified product contains essential micronutrients, including iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. The state launched its rice fortification plant and Fortified Eko Rice at the Lagos State Rice Mill in Imota, Ikorodu, in November 2025. The state said the facility was among the few rice mills in Nigeria with the capacity to fortify rice with essential micronutrients.

Fashola said the state would continue to work with millers, regulators and development partners to expand the adoption of fortified rice and strengthen the rice value chain.

A Deputy Director and Head of the Food and Agriculture Group, Standards Development Department, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs. Nene Obianwu, said standards would be critical to maintaining product quality and consumer confidence.

‘The code of practice was brought into play to guide the manufacturer into the production of a high-grade product,’ she said.

Obianwu added that standards would ensure consistency among products from different mills. ‘If there is no standard, somebody will produce it and it will not be the same,’ she said.

She added that standards would ensure that a product manufactured in one factory would meet the same requirements as a similar product produced elsewhere.

‘The standard helps you to get it right. It helps you maintain consistency so that you do not deteriorate,’ she said.

The importance of standards and regulatory compliance in rice fortification has also been emphasised in previous training involving SON and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). TechnoServe said rice millers are being supported to produce fortified rice in line with national regulatory requirements.

The Project Manager, Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN), TechnoServe, Seun Elere, said rice fortification had been driven by increasing concern over anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, as well as government-led food distribution, nutrition and social-protection programmes.

He urged participants at the training to apply the knowledge gained to their operations, improve quality control and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

TechnoServe, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), is implementing the PRiFN project to increase the adoption of rice fortification by rice millers and processors and promote consumption of fortified rice in Nigeria. The project supports rice mills with equipment, technical assistance and fortification inputs and is designed to contribute to improved nutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, a retired High Court Judge and the Asiwaju of Osogboland, and Chief Justice Kunle Adeigbe, among other notable dignitaries, paid glowing tributes to the life and times of the late veteran broadcaster, Chief Adekunle Adeleke, describing him as an icon, mentor and accomplished professional who left an enduring legacy in broadcasting and public service.

Oyetola, in his tribute to Adeleke, who died at the age of 82, described him as an ‘icon, uncle and veteran broadcaster,’ while Adeigbe recalled the deceased’s immense contribution to his career and personal development.

The tributes were delivered in messages at Adeleke’s funeral service, the Basorun of Iragbiji, held on Friday at All Saints’ Church, Jericho, Ibadan.

Oyetola said Adeleke’s remarkable career in broadcasting, dignity and commitment to his community earned him a special place in the hearts of the people and in the history of Iragbiji.

He said, ‘The news of the passing of Chief Kunle Adeleke, the Basorun of Iragbiji at the ripe age of 82, has left us mourning the death of this distinguished son, accomplished professional, reverend educationist and great philanthropist.’

According to Oyetola, Adeleke was a distinguished voice whose presence and personality commanded admiration and respect, particularly among those who grew up in Iragbiji.

He recalled that the deceased was a veteran broadcaster during the heyday of the Western Nigeria Television and Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service, where he distinguished himself through professionalism, eloquence and dedication to journalism.

Oyetola said Adeleke belonged to a generation of broadcasters who understood the power of the spoken word and used it with dignity and responsibility.

He added that the late broadcaster’s death was not merely the loss of a respected professional but also the departure of a cherished figure and proud son of Iragbiji.

‘Adieu, Uncle Kunle. Thank you for the inspiration, the dignity and the legacy you left behind,’ Oyetola said.

In his tribute, Rtd Justice Adeigbe described Adeleke as ‘the pioneer broadcaster, the administrator and the mentor of men,’ recalling his personal relationship with the deceased and the role he played in shaping his career.

Adeigbe said he had the privilege of serving as Adeleke’s Confidential Secretary in 1975, when the late broadcaster was appointed the first Director of News and Current Affairs of WNTV/WNBS, which he described as Africa’s first television station.

He said Adeleke was already an accomplished broadcast newscaster and personality interviewer before his appointment and later rose to serve as General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Permanent Secretary in the old Oyo State and Pioneer Director-General of the newly created Osun State in 1991.

Adeigbe said Adeleke’s influence on his life extended beyond professional mentorship, recalling how the deceased encouraged him to pursue further education and supported his journey from broadcasting into law.

‘He not only encouraged me; he saw me through every step,’ he said.

According to Adeigbe, Adeleke encouraged him to enrol at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1977 for his professional diploma and later at the University of Ibadan in 1979 to study Language Arts and Communication.

He said Adeleke subsequently supported his career progression in broadcasting, private legal practice, Law School, Call to Bar and eventual appointment to the Bench.

Describing the deceased as a confidant who celebrated his successes and counselled him during difficult periods, Adeigbe said Adeleke demonstrated that true leadership was about raising others.

He said, ‘Chief Kunle Adeleke set the professional standard for broadcasting in Africa and the administrative standard for public service in Nigeria. He demanded accuracy, integrity and excellence.’

In his sermon at the funeral service, the Bishop of Ogbomoso (Anglican) Diocese and the Supervising Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, the Rt. Revd Dr Titus Olayinka, speaking from Hebrews 9:27 under the theme, ‘The Inescapable Appointment,’ reminded the congregation of the inevitability of death.

Olayinka said death was an unavoidable reality for every human being, stressing that its timing remained uncertain and that neither age, wealth, position nor influence could prevent it.

The cleric described death as ‘a great equaliser’ and urged people to prepare adequately for it while alive.

He also called on Nigerians to resolve disputes peacefully, noting that quarrels could be settled without resorting to violence.

Other dignitaries at the funeral service include: the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Olu of Ifon, Oba Peter Ipadeola Ilufemiloye, the Aree of Iree, Oba Omotayo Muritala Oyelakin, Oyekun III; the Alabere of Abeere, Oba Mutalib Adelakin Adefemi Abiade II; and the Afaji of Ifaji, Oba Moshood Olawale.

Also present were the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Olabomi.

Adeleke, who died at the age of 82, was remembered as the first General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ile-Akede, and one of the youngest people of his generation to lead an organisation of such size and stature in Nigeria. He was also celebrated for his contributions to broadcasting, public administration, mentorship and the development of his community.

The LOC met the press on Tuesday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre to outline plans for the competition, which will bring together an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 athletes aged 15 to 18 to compete across 28 sporting disciplines and 31 individual events. Beyond logistics, officials framed the Games as an attempt to close a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s athletic pipeline, curb age falsification, stimulate local commerce and promote national integration.

Sports administrators have for years pointed to a structural gap between the sub-15 National Youth Games and the senior National Sports Festival, a gap that leaves promising teenage athletes without competitive opportunities during a crucial transition period and often pushes them out of organised sport altogether. Eko 2026 is designed to plug that gap by creating a permanent competitive tier for 15-to-18-year-olds.

LOC Chairman Sam Egube, who also serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, credited the governor’s backing for the project. ‘I am very thankful for the amount of support this Governor is giving us on this, with a very single mind,’ Egube said. ‘He has supported these games, he has supported youth development, he has supported infrastructure development, he has supported economic development. That is why we truly say that Lagos is Nigeria’s gateway to the world, Nigeria’s best chance to succeed, and is the world’s gateway to Nigeria.’

Egube listed the venues that will host events, including Teslim Balogun Stadium, the National Stadium Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba College of Technology, the University of Lagos, Elebata Sports Center, the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval and the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, alongside expanded centres in Surulere, Ikorodu, Epe, Agege and Badagry. He argued that hosting more than 15,000 young athletes benefits the state beyond medals. ‘This is another platform where we bring over 15,000 athletes, young people, to come again into Lagos, to come and interact with the place of dreams, with the place of possibilities,’ he said, adding that participants would carry home ‘dreams, ideas, possibilities’ and a demonstration that ‘religion, that tribe, that ethnicity will never divide us as a nation, because in sports, it pulls us together.’

On the commercial side, Egube said the Games would drive grassroots trade around venue locations, with small businesses encouraged to sell into the influx of visitors. Still, he insisted the real measure of success would be a clear pathway from grassroots talent into senior national and international competition. ‘The success, the harvest day of this, is not just in the talent we discover. It’s also in creating pathways for grassroots sports development. It’s also to create the next feeder into our national sports festival categories and our continental and global competitions,’ he said.

Egube also urged the assembled press to frame coverage constructively, telling reporters their work shapes how the country’s progress is understood both at home and abroad. ‘The media plays a very significant role – not only in sports development, but in national development,’ he said. ‘You are the ones that people listen to and get to understand the direction in which the country is going, the development, and what we are succeeding at. We ask of you that you do what you’ve always done to project our successes, to project our development, and to project the progress we’re making.’ He closed his remarks by asking reporters to keep the athletes’ national significance in view. ‘As you see these young people compete, remember that they belong to us. These athletes belong to Nigeria. And therefore, we’re going to emphasise what we have, not what we lack; the progress we’re making, and not the setbacks we’re having. Because this will represent our best chance in our future – our future beginning today.’

Omotoso frames Games as a first

Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, who chairs the Eko 2026 Publicity Sub-Committee, stressed the significance of Lagos hosting the first National Intermediate Games and thanked veteran sports editors for turning out for the parley. Invoking a Yoruba proverb, he said, ‘When you see the big mouse running in the day that means there’s something great that’s happening. And I assure you, what we are about to do is something great.’

He argued the intermediate tier was needed to identify and track young sporting talent between the youth and professional ranks, ‘to keep them busy, to identify them, to make people see them – that these are sporting talents that can fly the flag of our nation tomorrow.’ Omotoso said Governor Sanwo-Olu had personally committed to delivering the Games to a high standard. ‘He has promised that we are not just going to host the first-ever games of this kind, but we will host excellently. After all, this is the State of Excellence,’ he said.

Omotoso pointed to Lagos’s staging of EKO 2012 as evidence the state could deliver at scale, recalling that visiting organisers and guests at that event had been impressed enough to seek out Lagos as a benchmark for hosting duties elsewhere afterward. ‘It was magical,’ he said. ‘And I assure you, that is how we are going to do this.’

Fatodu ties games to age-fraud fight

Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission Lekan Fatodu confirmed that inspection teams from the National Sports Commission had assessed the host facilities and expressed satisfaction with the state’s readiness. He described the media parley as the LOC’s first public engagement on the Games and thanked reporters for their role in publicising the event and the talent it would showcase. ‘Without you, we will not be able to amplify the significance of this event,’ he told the room.

Fatodu said a central aim of the new age category is to eliminate age cheating by giving older teenagers a legitimate tournament of their own. He recalled that Lagos had filed the highest number of petitions during past under-15 competitions, challenging athletes it believed were 18, 19 or 20 years old and competing in the younger bracket. ‘We were the only ones strictly presenting young people within the true age category of 15,’ he said. ‘We argued that if you really want to present these under-18s, let us create this legitimate bridge between the Youth Games and the National Sports Festival.’ He added that the framework was designed to build ‘a clean pipeline’ for athletes and eliminate the use of multiple identities that can jeopardise their international careers.

He linked the initiative to Nigeria’s standing in international sport, citing the Commonwealth Games as an example of a competition where age categories are properly enforced. ‘While we were at the Commonwealth Games, we saw young people who are 15, who are 18, truly representing within their actual age category,’ Fatodu said. ‘That is the story of Nigeria we want to start writing, and that is the story that needs to be told. The experience of Lagos is going to be the experience of excellence, empowering dreams, inspiring greatness, and inspiring champions. Sports is not just for entertainment anymore; it’s a tool for diplomacy, it’s a tool to promote unity across tribes and tongues. That is why we are having all 36 states, including the FCT, in Lagos State.’

Fatodu framed the media parley itself as a milestone for the LOC. ‘This one is really, really exciting because it is our very first media outing,’ he said. ‘Without you, we will not be able to shine light on the talent that Lagos State is going to be showcasing. Without you, we will not be able to further accentuate the fact that Lagos State is truly the powerhouse and epicentre of sports in Nigeria. So we are not just going to be welcoming athletes; we’re going to be welcoming future champions that will be representing Nigeria at the national level, continental level, and international level.’

Ogunlende links games to youth agenda

Lagos State Commissioner for Youth Development and LOC Co-Chairman Mobolaji Ogunlende tied the Games to the state’s broader youth policy under the Sanwo-Olu administration’s THEMES+ agenda, which he said had added a stronger emphasis on inclusiveness in its second term. He argued that Lagos’s youth-heavy demographic profile makes investment in young people essential to the state’s – and the country’s – development. ‘Without developing the youth, without amplifying the youth, we will not have a great Lagos or a great Nigeria,’ he said.

Ogunlende closed by framing the Games as a vehicle for national cohesion as much as athletic development. ‘When thousands of young athletes come together in Lagos, the place of dreams, to compete for glory and honour, it is ultimately about national unity and togetherness,’ he said. ‘When young people come together with a shared purpose, nothing can stop them from achieving greatness.’ He also thanked the media corps directly for turning out for the parley, echoing the earlier remarks from Egube, Omotoso and Fatodu that sustained press coverage would be central to the Games’ success in the run-up to October.

With preparations under way across host venues in Surulere, Yaba, Ikeja and coastal centres, Lagos State is readying infrastructure to receive delegations from across the federation ahead of the October kickoff.

Former Nigeria international and veteran coach Kadiri Ikhana has called for an investigation into the administration of former Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Musa Gusau following the resignation of the federation’s leadership.

Ikhana, a member of Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, said resignation should not prevent the authorities from examining the financial and administrative activities of the outgoing board.

He argued that the leadership should account for funds received during its tenure and answer questions surrounding Nigeria’s recent football setbacks.

‘It’s not enough to just allow them to resign. What happens to the huge amount of money squandered in their tenure? What of the maladministration that happened that made us lose two World Cups?’ Ikhana asked.

‘Nigerians deserve to know and the only way is to send either the EFCC or ICPC after them. They should be made to account for every money advanced to them.’

Another former Nigeria international, Felix Owolabi, expressed disappointment with the state of Nigerian football and said he hoped the next leadership would correct the problems left behind.

Owolabi described the decline as ‘shameful’ and called for a new administration capable of restoring confidence in the country’s football system.