The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, gave the assurance on Sunday while speaking on the state’s preparedness for the event, tagged ‘EKO 2026’.
The competition, an initiative of the National Sports Commission (NSC), is designed to strengthen the pathway between youth and elite sports by providing young athletes with an opportunity to compete at a national level.
Athletes representing Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are expected to participate in the inaugural games, which are scheduled to take place from October 1 to 15.
The competition will feature athletes between the ages of 15 and 18, bringing together some of the country’s emerging sporting talents in what organisers hope will become an important platform for identifying and developing future national stars.
Fatodu said Lagos had taken extensive measures to ensure that participants, officials and visitors enjoy a safe and comfortable experience throughout the competition.
“We are going to give the people of Lagos, Nigerians and international observers a spectacular sporting event during the Intermediate Games,” he said.
According to the LSSC director-general, preparations have covered key areas including security, accommodation, athletes’ welfare and the readiness of facilities at the various venues.
“The games is an event that is solid from the perspective of security, accommodation, care and the availability of required facilities,” Fatodu said.
He added that facilities allocated for the 38 sports to be contested had been prepared to support efficient competition and minimise disruptions during the two-week event.
“The facilities that we have made available for all the 38 sports are in top shape to make it seamless, smooth and really successful,” he said.
Lagos is also expecting the games to attract attention beyond the participating states, with Fatodu expressing confidence that both Nigerian and international observers would find the event suitable for high-level sporting engagement.
“We expect that the local and international communities will enjoy the games, which will be held in an atmosphere that is more fitting and suitable,” he said.
He further said the games centre had been put in good condition to receive athletes and guests, while describing the opportunity to host the inaugural competition as a major moment for the state.
“The games centre is in its best shape for our international athletes and guests to compete in. We are very excited,” Fatodu said.
The event is expected to play a significant role in the development of Nigeria’s sporting pipeline by giving young athletes competitive exposure at a time when many promising talents are seeking platforms to transition into elite-level competition.
Beyond the Intermediate Games, Fatodu said Lagos remained committed to attracting international sporting competitions as part of its broader ambition to establish the state as a destination for major sporting events.
He cited the recently concluded ninth edition of the Lagos International Badminton Classics as an example of the state’s growing role in international sports.
“Year-on-year, the Lagos International Badminton Classics keeps improving, and a lot of athletes have been discovered,” he said.
According to Fatodu, the tournament has also benefited athletes by attracting increasing numbers of international competitors and providing opportunities for players to gain ranking points and improve their positions.
“A lot of athletes are also excited by the fact that their ratings are improving,” he said.
The badminton tournament, he added, serves a purpose beyond competition, allowing visiting athletes to experience Lagos while helping the state promote itself as a destination for international sporting activities.
“The games provide a friendly atmosphere for these international athletes to see the beauty of Lagos.
“We are using the opportunity to showcase Lagos as a destination for international-level sporting engagement,” Fatodu said.
He also stressed the importance of exposing young Nigerian athletes to international competition, saying events such as the Badminton Classics could help inspire, identify and nurture the next generation of sporting talent.
“The International Classics also provide opportunities for our young people to be inspired, identified and discovered,” he said.
Fatodu said continued exposure to quality competition would enable promising athletes to develop the experience, confidence and competitive maturity required to progress towards international success.
With the National Intermediate Games expected to bring together young athletes from across the country, Lagos will now seek to translate its preparations into a successful maiden edition while establishing EKO 2026 as a significant platform for the discovery and development of Nigeria’s future sporting champions.