Lagos 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 National Sports Commission (NSC) has said.

The Games, conceived under the Commission’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), are designed to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite sports by creating a structured pathway for athletes aged 15 to 18.

The NSC said that the age bracket represents a critical stage in athlete development, when promising young talents require proper competition, monitoring and support to progress into the elite level.

Beyond competition, it said that the National Intermediate Games are expected to provide a platform for talent identification, performance assessment and the transition of emerging athletes into Nigeria’s high-performance sports system.

NSC’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, said that Lagos was the natural choice to host the maiden edition because of the state’s ability to develop athletes from school and grassroots competitions into elite performers.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Games’ logo and mascot, Olopade described Lagos as having 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 schoolchildren 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.

“This is very proactive, and this is what we are looking forward to. Lagos has consistently shown that it can lead from the front and bridge the gap that exists in our sports.”

The Games will also carry a strong Lagos identity, with the official logo incorporating cultural and sporting elements associated with the state.

The design features the Eyo cap, Opambata, the “Eko” inscription, colourful swirls and three ascending stars, while the official mascot, named Lasgidi, further reflects the cultural character of the host city.

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.

The state has also secured access to institutional facilities, including the Lagos Tennis Club, Onikan, TBS Cricket Oval, Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos.

The spread of the venues across the state is expected to enable the Games to accommodate multiple sporting disciplines while providing the operational capacity required for a national competition.

Lagos’ organisational experience was another factor in the decision to award the maiden edition to the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu earlier this year constituted a Local Organising Committee to oversee the delivery of EKO 2026.

The LOC is chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sam Egube, while the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, and Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, serve as co-chairmen.

Several sub-committees have also been established to oversee different aspects of the Games and ensure their smooth delivery.

The LOC has described EKO 2026 as a structured talent-transition platform aimed at connecting grassroots promise with podium-ready performance.

For the NSC, the inaugural Games represent more than a multi-sport competition. They are intended to establish a new tier in Nigeria’s sports development architecture, with Lagos providing the foundation for identifying, monitoring and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian champions.