The second edition of the Pan-African School Games opened with swimming at the Olympic-size pool of James Hope College, Lekki, Lagos State, attracting hundreds of young athletes to the three-day competition.

Organised by Seun Akinbohun, Busola Tejumola and Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, the tournament features more than 11 schools, with athletes aged 11 to 15 competing for medals in the Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 categories.

Parents and supporters turned out in large numbers for the opening day, underscoring growing interest in youth sports development.

Co-organiser Aderoju Ope-Ajayi said the initiative was established to create opportunities for young people through sports and nurture future champions, despite financial challenges.

She disclosed that nearly 400 children and more than 200 parents attended the opening day, describing the turnout as an encouraging sign for the development of grassroots sports.

According to her, the organisers scheduled the games during the students’ half-term break to ensure the competition did not disrupt their academic activities.

Ope-Ajayi said the success of the maiden edition encouraged the organisers to expand the tournament and sustain their commitment to providing young athletes with opportunities to develop their talents.

She credited sponsors and partners with helping to sustain the initiative and commended parents for supporting their children’s participation.

The three-day competition brings together school athletes to compete across age categories, offering them an opportunity to test their abilities and gain experience in organised sporting events.