Lagos projects ₦10bn economic impact from Eko 2026 National Intermediate Games
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said the maiden National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026, is projected to generate ₦10 billion in economic activities and create about 70,000 jobs.
The Local Organising Committee, led by its Chairman, Sam Egube, disclosed this during a media briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, as preparations for the games intensify.
Egube said the competition, scheduled to hold from October 1 to 15, would bring about 15,000 athletes aged between 15 and 18 to Lagos.
He described Lagos as Nigeria’s economic powerhouse and a gateway to the world, stressing that youth development remained central to the state’s development agenda.
“Without developing the youth, without amplifying the youth, we will not have a great Lagos,” Egube said, urging the media to use the games to project Nigeria’s achievements, talents and potential.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission and member of the LOC, Lekan Fatodu, described Eko 2026 as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s sports development and the first National Intermediate Games of its kind.
Fatodu said the competition was designed to bridge the gap between youth games and the National Sports Festival by creating a structured pathway for young athletes to progress into elite sports, while facilities were being expanded to accommodate the 28 sporting disciplines.
He added that transportation, accommodation and other logistics had been planned, while age-verification measures would be implemented to prevent cheating, with the University of Lagos providing accommodation for thousands of athletes and dedicated subcommittees overseeing feeding, catering, accommodation and quality assurance.
