The just-concluded South-West Games has the potential to build a strong crop of athletes and officials for the country, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, has said.

Commending the organisers of the games for what she described as “a brilliantly conceived and excellently delivered sporting initiative that holds immense promise for youth development and regional integration,” Meranda said such initiatives are needed by the country to get back to the top of global sports.

Speaking while receiving the president of the South-West Games, Dr Lanre Alfred and his team in her office, on Wednesday, Meranda described the tournament as a timely and well-executed intervention that promotes not only physical excellence, but also unity, discipline, and communal pride.

“Let me sincerely applaud you, Dr. Alfred, and your entire team for this visionary project,” Meranda said. “The South West Games is a shining example of how sports can be used to engage our youth constructively, foster regional pride, and build a culture of healthy competition. What you’ve done is not just commendable, it’s exemplary.”

Meranda, who is widely recognised for her commitment to youth-focused initiatives and community development, urged the organisers to look beyond the region and scale the project into a national model that could drive broader grassroots sports development across Nigeria.

Responding to the endorsement, Dr. Lanre Alfred expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Meranda, calling her commendation “a powerful affirmation from a highly respected voice in public service.”

He said: “To be received and honoured in this way by the Deputy Speaker of Lagos State is deeply humbling.

Her words encourage us to do more, and her guidance offers a clear path forward. This is no longer just our project—it is becoming a shared dream.”

Alfred also disclosed that preliminary consultations are underway with stakeholders from other geopolitical zones aimed at designing an inter-regional sports calendar, with the South-West Games serving as a model for replication.

“The support we’ve received, especially from leaders like Meranda, has emboldened us to pursue our broader vision,” he noted.