Author Archives: fuadore

Team Lagos delivered a commanding performance at the just-concluded National U-15 Swimming Competition, tagged “Swim for Life,” held from 23rd to 25th April 2025 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Competing against young swimmers from across Nigeria, the 16-member squad stood out by winning a total of 44 medals – 14 Gold, 16 Silver, and 14 Bronze, across 53 of the 65 events featured at the championship.

Organised by the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, the event showcased the emergence of future swimming champions. Team Lagos rose to the occasion with discipline, drive, and talent. Two standout athletes, Maryam Muhammed (12) and Oluwatomi Adebayo (8), were named Most Valuable Swimmers of the tournament, underscoring the quality of the state’s youth swimming programme and the impact of intentional grassroots development.

Reacting to the team’s performance, Mr. Lekan Fatodu, Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, who led the Lagos delegation to the competition, commended the swimmers, coaches, parents, and support staff.

“This result speaks to the strength of our sports development as a State. Our swimmers’ display in Abuja reinforces our belief that consistent support and structured exposure at the junior level will yield champions who can represent Nigeria globally. We are incredibly proud of their achievement and inspired by the dedication they continue to show.”

Mr. Fatodu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building clear pathways for young athletes, emphasising that success at junior-level competitions confirms the value of sustained investment in coaching, facilities, and mentorship.

Speaking on behalf of parents of Lagos athletes at the event, Mrs. Aderoju Ope-Ajayi expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the new leadership at the Lagos State Sports Commission for their renewed support and direction. She emphasised the importance of working together with the Commission to grow the sport further, stating that many stakeholders are ready to collaborate and contribute toward taking swimming in Lagos to the next level.

The Lagos State Sports Commission remains focused on nurturing the next generation of elite athletes and building on this momentum through talent discovery, technical support, and competitive exposure across all sports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, has emphasized the role of the commission in propagating inclusivity and encouragement of young talent development across various sports.

Fatodu made the statement at the grand finale of the Lagos State U-20 Volleyball Club Championship held at the Volleyball Court of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The four-day novel initiative was designed to bring different clubs together from the state to continuing honing their skills, building a formidable team, measure the level of their performances and also serves as a rare opportunity for the young stars to compete among themselves.

Speaking further, Fatodu explained that the commission is creating an enabling environment to those in various places or schools who did not have the opportunity to be part of those who qualified for competitions like the National Youth Games.

“Similarly, we’re deliberate about age categories and want to use the right parameters to feature our athletes. So, when we say U-20, we are truly presenting the right age.

“We are not leaving no sports behind. We want to have an inclusive sporting engagement where many of our young people will have alternatives from different activities, including boxing, volleyball, table tennis swimming, cycling, and open water competitions, “Fatodu noted.

In the female final Yabatech walloped Ikorodu ll 2 – 0 (25 – 21, 25 – 20) to emerge as the pioneer title holders of the championship carting home the sum of Two Hundred thousand naira while Saviour Academy Ketu grabbed the coveted title with 2 – 0 (25 – 21, 26 – 24) in the male category with the same amount.

The Lagos State Sports Commission, in collaboration with the Lagos State Volleyball Association, has concluded arrangements to organise the 2025 U-20 Volleyball Club Championship at the Volleyball Court of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

This initiative is part of the commission’s efforts to consolidate on the sustainable path for sports development, promote the growth of volleyball across the state, and create an enabling environment for young talents to showcase their skills.

The championship, scheduled to take place from January 29th to February 1st, 2025, will feature clubs across the state competing for the highest honors during the anticipated three-day event.

 

As a state renowned for sustainable sports development, this tournament aims to uncover hidden talents, foster a strong volleyball culture, and build formidable teams as the state intensifies preparations for the upcoming national event in Ogun State, tagged the Gateway Games.

Volleyball clubs in Lagos are gearing up for the tournament, which offers a valuable platform for youngsters to hone their skills and compete at a high level.