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The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has declared that the National Intermediate Games were created as a permanent platform to bridge the gap between grassroots sports and elite competition in Nigeria.

Olopade made the remarks on Tuesday during the inaugural meeting of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the maiden edition of the Games in Abuja.

The NSC boss, who also chairs the committee, said the initiative aligns with the sports development vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he commended for supporting reforms and growth within the sports sector.

According to him, the President has consistently advocated the use of sports as a tool for empowerment, economic development, and national identity rather than limiting it to entertainment and medal-winning.

Olopade explained that the NSC, under his leadership and that of Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, introduced the RHINSE agenda to reposition Nigerian sports and create sustainable opportunities for athletes and sports entrepreneurs.

“If you are doing sports, you have the right to create a business out of it,” he stated.

He stressed that sports have evolved into a major economic and social platform capable of empowering youths and strengthening national development.

According to him, the Intermediate Games will provide a structured transition for athletes progressing from the National Youth Games into higher levels of competition. “This is why the Intermediate Games are here to stay,” Olopade declared.

He also praised Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for agreeing to host the inaugural edition of the Games.

Olopade said the competition would bring together athletes from primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and emerging elite categories within one sustainable sports ecosystem.

He added that the Games would create opportunities for hidden talents from states such as Kano, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, and Ogun to compete against established and semi-professional athletes.

Stakeholders at the meeting described the initiative as a major step towards building a stronger athlete development structure capable of improving Nigeria’s future international competitiveness.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the maiden National Intermediate Games, tagged Lagos 2026.

This approval effectively activates the institutional machinery required to host the nation’s first-ever dedicated transition tournament for athletes aged 16 to 19.

Conceived as a bridge competition for young athletes transitioning from grassroots to elite national levels, the National Intermediate Games will provide a structured and competitive platform for participants from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Lagos State, with its modern sporting infrastructure and proven event-management pedigree, was selected to host the inaugural edition of the Games, further consolidating its reputation as a hub of sporting excellence.

To deliver on this bold vision, the committee tasked with staging a superlative sporting spectacle that reflects the “Greater Lagos” vision will be led by a powerhouse trio of Co-Chairmen, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Lagos, Sam Egube; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende; and the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu.

In operational terms, the LOC will coordinate all logistical, technical, and strategic frameworks required to deliver a seamless and memorable Games. It will liaise with the National Sports Commission (NSC), the respective national sports federations, and key stakeholders to ensure the competition meets the highest standards of organisation, integrity and athlete welfare.

Speaking on the significance of the development, Fatodu, whose leadership has been instrumental in securing the hosting rights, hailed the governor’s proactive stance as the primary catalyst for this new era in youth sports development.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has once again demonstrated that his commitment to the youth of this state and the nation is not merely rhetorical but deeply structural,” Fatodu remarked.

“By providing an unrivalled enabling environment and the robust political will to back our sporting initiatives, the governor has turned Lagos into a global laboratory for talent excellence. This initiative will serve as the vehicle to execute Mr Governor’s vision of making sports a viable pathway for economic empowerment and national pride.”

Building on this, Fatodu further emphasised that the governor’s consistent support has enabled the commission to flourish institutionally, ensuring that the 2026 intermediate games will feature state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure that meet international elite standards.

At its core, the Intermediate Games are designed to fill a long-standing void in Nigeria’s sports value chain, specifically addressing the “intermediate” window where many promising young talents are often lost to inactivity due to the absence of structured competition.

Speaking on the collaborative nature of the tournament, NSC’s Director General, Bukola Olopade, noted that the choice of Lagos as host for the inaugural edition was a deliberate nod to the state’s proven track record in delivering impactful and large-scale sporting events.

“There is a unique energy that Lagos brings to national assignments, and with this high-calibre LOC, we are confident the National Intermediate Games are in the best possible hands,” Olopade stated. “We look forward to a synergy between the National Sports Commission and the Lagos State Sports Commission that sets a permanent gold standard for youth competitions in Africa.”

Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the inauguration of a Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the maiden National Intermediate Games (NIG) Lagos 2026, setting in motion what officials describe as a major step in reshaping Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem.

The approval activates the institutional framework required to host the country’s first dedicated transition tournament for athletes aged 16 to 19. Conceived as a bridge between grassroots and elite competition, the National Intermediate Games is expected to provide a structured platform for young talents drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Lagos was selected as host for the inaugural edition, a decision widely attributed to its modern sporting infrastructure and track record in managing large-scale events, further reinforcing its status as a hub for sporting excellence.

The LOC, tasked with delivering the Games, will be co-chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sam Egube; and the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende; and the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu.

In operational terms, the committee will coordinate logistics, technical execution, and strategic planning, while working closely with the National Sports Commission, national sports federations, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with global standards in organisation, integrity, and athlete welfare.

Fatodu, whose leadership played a key role in securing the hosting rights, described the Governor’s approval as a decisive intervention in youth sports development. He said the initiative reflects a structured commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes and positioning sports as a pathway for economic empowerment and national pride.

He further noted that sustained government backing has strengthened institutional capacity within the commission, adding that the 2026 Games will feature modern facilities and technology aligned with international standards.

At its core, the Intermediate Games is designed to address a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s sports development framework, particularly the transitional phase where many promising athletes are lost due to the absence of organised competition.

Also speaking, Director General of the National Sports Commission of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, said the choice of Lagos as host reflects confidence in the state’s proven ability to deliver impactful and large-scale sporting events.

“There is a unique energy that Lagos brings to national assignments, and with this high-calibre LOC, we are confident the National Intermediate Games are in the best possible hands,” Olopade stated. “We look forward to a synergy between the National Sports Commission and the Lagos State Sports Commission that sets a permanent gold standard for youth competitions in Africa.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s tenure has been marked by consistent and purposeful investment in sports, from the rehabilitation of sporting facilities across Lagos State to the active support of athletes representing Nigeria on continental and global stages.

The decision to host the inaugural National Intermediate Games is widely seen by sports stakeholders and the public as the latest and most ambitious expression of that commitment, one that promises to leave a lasting imprint on the landscape of youth sport in Nigeria.

The National Intermediate Games 2026 is expected to attract thousands of young athletes, officials, and sports enthusiasts to Lagos, further reinforcing the state’s reputation as Nigeria’s undisputed sports capital.