The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to creating an enabling environment for all sports to flourish, describing sports as a vital tool for youth development, social inclusion, and economic empowerment.
This assurance was given by the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Hon. Lekan Fatodu, during the grand finale of the third edition of the Lagos Zen Archery International Open Tournament held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
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According to Fatodu, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains dedicated to supporting sporting initiatives that empower young people and promote excellence.
“The Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, remains firmly committed to creating an enabling environment where sports can thrive as a vehicle for youth development, social inclusion, economic opportunity, and national pride,” Fatodu stated.
He noted that the growth of sports goes beyond infrastructure development, emphasizing the importance of sustained support for competitions that provide athletes with opportunities to compete, develop their talents, and inspire future generations.
Fatodu also congratulated the Lagos Zen Archery Club for successfully organizing the international tournament, describing the event as a major boost for the profile of archery in Nigeria and across Africa.
He commended the club for the steady improvement in the quality and reach of the competition, which attracted participants from Chad, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and several clubs across Nigeria.
“This is a reflection of what is possible when vision, passion, and commitment come together in pursuit of sporting excellence,” he added.
Nigeria Emerging as Archery Powerhouse
President of the Archery Federation of Nigeria, Abdullahi Baba, expressed satisfaction with the standard of competition and praised all participating athletes, organizers, and the Lagos State Government for their support.
Baba noted that Lagos remains the hub of archery development in Nigeria and highlighted the country’s remarkable progress in the sport since making its international debut in 2021.
“Nigeria has grown tremendously in the game of archery to become a dominant competitive force in Africa, following our impressive performances at recent continental championships,” he said.
He revealed that Nigeria is set to host the West and Central Africa Archery Championships later this year, as well as the African Championships next year.
According to him, these hosting rights demonstrate the federation’s growing capacity and confidence in the country’s young talents.
He added that efforts are ongoing to introduce archery into secondary schools nationwide to expand grassroots participation and identify future champions.
Zen Archery Calls for Greater Stakeholder Support
Patron of Zen Archery Club, Ms. Ayotola Jagun, said the sport continues to gain momentum in Nigeria and offers immense opportunities for young people.
She noted that millions of people worldwide participate in archery and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future in the sport, citing the achievements of athletes representing the country at continental and international competitions.
“Archery offers new opportunities to everyone, particularly young people, to discover themselves through competition and personal development,” Jagun said.
She explained that through Zen Archery’s programmes and initiatives, more young Nigerians are being introduced to the sport, while athletes are gaining platforms to train, compete, and pursue excellence.
“Through tournaments like this, Nigeria is increasingly becoming part of the global archery conversation,” she added.
Jagun called on government agencies, corporate sponsors, the media, and the wider archery community to strengthen collaboration and continue investing in the growth of the sport.
Côte d’Ivoire Dominates Championship Finals
The championship produced 23 gold medalists across various categories, ranging from the 30m Barebow to the 70m Recurve events.
Athletes from Côte d’Ivoire delivered standout performances, with Agnes Lewis, Jean Eben, and Kossia Prisca claiming gold medals in the 70m Recurve events for men and women respectively.
The Ivorian duo of Kossia Prisca and Yao Kouassi Chadrac also emerged champions in the 70m Recurve Mixed Team category, underlining their country’s dominance at the tournament.
The successful staging of the competition further reinforced Lagos State’s growing reputation as a destination for international sporting events and a key driver of sports development in Nigeria.
