Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has inaugurated 44 newly appointed chairmen of sports associations across the state, charging them to strengthen grassroots development and create better opportunities for emerging athletes.
The inauguration took place on Tuesday at Lagos House, Ikeja, where the governor described the appointments as an important step towards improving sports administration and development in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu urged the new sports administrators to establish clear and measurable goals for their respective associations and develop systems that can identify, nurture and prepare young talents for success at national and international competitions.
He also challenged them to put succession plans in place so that the structures and programmes established during their tenure would continue to benefit athletes beyond their time in office.
The governor emphasised that Lagos has considerable sporting talent but needs the right structures, training opportunities and competitive platforms to turn promising athletes into high-level performers.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the government deliberately selected experienced individuals across different sporting disciplines to provide leadership, mentorship and opportunities for young athletes.
He noted that the chairmen would serve as important links between athletes and their respective sporting communities, with responsibilities covering talent discovery, athlete development, competition organisation and technical capacity building.
Fatodu further stressed the importance of collaboration between government, sports associations, athletes, coaches, schools, businesses and local communities in advancing sports development across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated chairmen, the Chairman of the Lagos State Athletics Association, Dr Solomon Alao, assured the state government of their commitment to delivering meaningful results.
Alao said the inauguration had strengthened their confidence and motivation to contribute to the administration’s vision for sports development in Lagos.
He pledged that the new leadership of the various associations would work towards credible and sustainable programmes that would improve opportunities for athletes and contribute to the growth of sports in the state.
