Arrangements have been concluded for the maiden edition of the Africa School Games (ASG) on Friday, October 17, at the British International School (BIS), Lagos, the organisers have said.

According to the organisers, the three-day sports fiesta is put together with a clear vision of showcasing the talent and potential of young athletes in Africa.

In this first edition, athletes will compete in swimming, athletics, and football in three age categories: U-11, U-13, and U-15, with the intention of exposing the athletes to agents for scholarship opportunities in schools outside the country.

According to the co-founder of the tournament, Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, the privately-organised games was borne out of a clear conviction that Africa needs its own platform to showcase the talent and potential of its young athletes.

The ASG vision is being driven by Dr. Seun Akinbohun, Dr. Busola Tejumola, and Ope-Ajayi, who co-founded ASG with a bold, continental stage where African children can compete, excel and be celebrated on their own terms.

“For too long, opportunities for our children have been shaped by external systems. It’s time to change that. This is more than a competition; it’s about ownership, pride, and building a legacy for the next generation. ASG is more than a competition; it’s a structured school sports ecosystem with three key elements,” she said.

Among the vision of ASG, according to Ope-Ajayi, are continental talent Identification and ecosystem building with the aim of partnering with schools, sports federations, governments and the private sector to build capacity for coaches, officials, facilities, and sustainable structures.

She, however, said that “there must be a conscious rethink of how sport is being run in Nigeria,” adding “right now, we treat sports like an an extra-curricular activity, when in reality, it’s a national development tool.

“We wait until athletes are adults to start paying attention to them. By then, most have either fallen through the cracks or left the system. In countries that dominate global sports, the work starts in schools through structured competitions, investment in coaching, facilities, and talent tracking. If Nigeria wants to compete globally, we must start building at the foundation level early, consistently, and intentionally.”

She added: “The future of ASG is to become Africa’s premier school sports platform, consistent, respected, and globally recognised. We plan to expand to more countries, more sports, and more schools every year. We want to create a strong talent pipeline that feeds into national teams, scholarships, and global sporting opportunities. We envision a day when young African athletes don’t have to leave the continent to be discovered. Ultimately, ASG will become a catalyst for how Africa redefines sports as a strategic growth sector, not just an after-school activity.”