The National Sports Commission (NSC) has described the forthcoming National Intermediate Games in Lagos as one of the most important policy reforms in Nigerian sports since the re-establishment of the Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the Main Organising Committee in Abuja, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade said the Games are designed to bridge the gap between youth competitions and elite sports while creating a sustainable development pathway for young athletes.
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“The Intermediate Games will surely be one of our true sporting legacies in terms of podium placement, grassroots development, and capacity building,” Olopade stated.
He explained that Nigeria has long struggled to create a smooth transition between junior-level sports and elite competitions, making the introduction of the Intermediate Games a crucial step toward solving that challenge.
According to him, the initiative is also aimed at reviving the traditional intermediate sports system that produced many of Nigeria’s legendary athletes during the 1970s and 1980s.
“We want to return to the good old days when the intermediate sports system produced some of the country’s finest athletes,” he added.
Olopade expressed confidence in Lagos State’s ability to successfully host the competition, describing the state as Nigeria’s biggest sports hub. He also praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Sports Commission for their support and alignment with the Federal Government’s sports vision.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, who also serves as Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, assured stakeholders that Lagos is prepared to deliver a world-class event.
“We have already started work to make these Games one of the most engaging multi-sport competitions Nigeria has seen,” Fatodu said.
The inaugural National Intermediate Games will take place from October 1 to October 15, 2026, and is open to athletes aged 16 to 19 years.
Organisers confirmed that the competition structure will mirror the format used for the National Sports Festival, with 15 compulsory sports selected for participation, including athletics, football, basketball, swimming, wrestling, boxing, tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting among others.
The Games are expected to serve as a major platform for discovering and developing the next generation of elite Nigerian athletes while strengthening grassroots sports across the country.
